BIST Science to Business Course

The From Science to Business course, created through a partnership between ICFO and ESADE Business School, has long been at the heart of ICFO’s Plus+ training and development program. Throughout its first five editions, the program evolved yearly to assure that the contents were suited to the needs of today’s researchers in an ever-changing business landscape.

Based on the success of the program, in 2016 the program moved under the BIST umbrella in order to expand its frontiers to incorporate researchers from the seven different research centers that comprise BIST. While this course normally takes place in the Spring, due to COVID related delays, the intensive program began on November 2nd this year with an online welcome event and Entrepreneurs panel. Classes were held starting on November 3rd at ESADE’s Pedralbes campus, with some participants joining in online (hybrid format). Course work included instruction on innovation and strategy, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial finance. As part of the program, participants worked in groups on hands-on entrepreneurial projects, presenting their final “pitch” on Friday, November 13th.

In total 33 participants took part in this year’s program. Three ICFOnians were amongst these participants, enjoying the opportunity to network with researchers from the other BIST centers as well as students from ALBA and EMBL- Barcelona.

The program, with its strong emphasis on entrepreneurship, is aimed at BIST researchers including senior researchers, postdoctoral fellows and last year doctoral students. It focuses on helping professionals in academia get acquainted with the business world, increasing their understanding of how companies work and create value in a competitive environment. BIST scientists become familiar with the new venture creation process and the role that science and technology plays in it.