Dear PhD students,
Imperial’s Medical Research Council (MRC) Doctoral Training Partnership will hold an Entrepreneurship and Innovation retreat in July developed by Imperial’s Enterprise Lab for PhD students –
Engaging with Entrepreneurship and Innovation Retreat
Dates: Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 July 2025
Location: Hilton Kensington London, Holland Park Avenue – accommodation including breakfast and lunch, will be provided.
This retreat in aimed at MRC funded PhD students, however, limited places are available free of charge for PhD students from departments across Imperial who are currently in year 2 or above. If you are interested, please use this form to apply for a place: https://forms.office.com/e/2s1Gtu3DMz
The deadline for applications is midnight on 9 May 2025 and places will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis. In the event of all places being taken before this date, a waiting list system will be used.
Below are the draft overview and learning objectives, however, final content may change.
Retreat Overview
This 2-day retreat, based in White City, is designed for PhD researchers from the MRC MultiSci Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) at Imperial College London. The retreat focuses on developing skills for translating complex scientific research into commercial opportunities and effectively communicating with industry partners, investors, and non-academic audiences.
Day 1: Customer Discovery & Market Testing
The first day focuses on self-reflection, career pathways, and commercialisation strategies. Participants explore their StandOut assessment results, engage in career planning activities, and learn about identifying commercial potential in their research. Through interactive workshops, they develop skills in customer discovery and market testing applicable to scientific innovations.
Day 2: Refining Your Story & Making an Impact
The second day emphasises communication skills, focusing on crafting compelling narratives and delivering impactful presentations. Participants learn storytelling techniques, work with a professional magician to enhance their stage presence and receive coaching on their pitches. The day culminates in a pitch session where participants present to a panel of industry experts for feedback.
Learning Outcomes
- Leverage Personal Strengths for Professional Growth
- Evaluate Commercial Potential of Research
- Engage with Stakeholders and Validate Ideas
- Communicate Complex Scientific Ideas Effectively
- Develop Actionable Commercialisation Plans