UCL CS I/O LAB

April 19 – Jun 16, 2021

Join a hands-on collaborative lab to brainstorm startup ideas and product applications of your research. The Lab is a mix of group and one-on-one workshops to help you:

1) understand your research and ideas

2) identify what is most relevant

3) come up with product ideas

4) build a practical research to product strategy

5) explore the spectrum of attractive startup and commercialisation options open to you as a world leading UCL CS academic.

About

CS I/O Lab is a highly collaborative pre-startup program focused on the needs and interests of research academics. You don't need previous experience in startups or technology commercialisation. It is a mix of one on one and group ideation sessions to help you find interesting ways to apply your research and ideas.

Over 8 weeks, you will brainstorm with other academics, entrepreneurs and investors to uncover the most attractive real world applications. By the end of the program you will better understand the wider applicability of your work, have identified new ways to apply your research to real world use cases and have built a research to product plan. We will also help you understand the various startup and commercialisation options available to UCL academics. The end result could be anything from your own fully funded startup, new application ideas, a world class product or a valuable long term research collaboration and advisory role.

Learn

If you think aspects of your research or an innovative idea should be applied outside academia, we will work with you to explore this. We will help you uncover use cases, potential products and build a pragmatic research to product strategy. You’ll come to understand the spectrum of attractive commercialisation and startup options open to you as a world leading UCL computer science academic.

Apply*

To join please tell us why you want to be on the program and give a short summary of the aspects of your research or idea you feel may be turned into a commercial product

Logistics

The program will run from April 19 to June 16 (8 weeks). Each week will cover a different aspect of technology innovation and commercialisation. The program will culminate in a “demo day” where you will get the opportunity to pitch your technology solution to a panel for prizes!

FAQs

Will the event be held online or in-person?

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, CS I/O Lab will host this 100% online. We plan to make it feel as in-person as possible by sending all participants their own pack of goodies!

What platform will you be using for the event?

We will be using Zoom as the primary platform, with most communication and general chat over Slack.

How will you distribute swag and prizes?

We will mail a swag box with goodies to each participant at the start of the program, and send prizes at the end. Once you've registered for the event, we will reach out to ask for your home address so the pack can be sent to you.

How will you develop a sense of community?

We will host regular virtual meet-ups which will include cocktail packages being sent to participants homes. We hope this event will bring together teams and mentors with meaningful interaction and guidance; and the community will continue even after the conclusion of CS I/O Lab.

Timetable

1. Commercialising Research: Why should I care?

1pm - 2pm Monday 19th of April 2021

Led by Marina Santilli and Nicholas Yiu of UCLB, we kick off the Innovation series with inspirational stories of deriving commercial impact from academic research. We will then explain why this programme is of relevance to all academics and lay out the various paths available to you.

2. Speed Dating & Drinks

1pm - 2pm Thursday 22nd of April 2021

Meet with your fellow colleagues on the programme and the I/O labs team to explore your research areas and collaboration opportunities. Afterwards we’re providing cocktails delivered to you to enjoy together.

3. What’s the problem?

1pm - 2pm Wednesday 28th of April 2021

Lead by David Grimm of UCL Tech Fund, learn the starting step in how businesses are built and how to identify a business opportunity.

4. How big is the problem?

1pm - 2pm Wednesday 5th of May 2021

Lead by David Grimm of UCL Tech Fund, this session aims to equip you with the tools needed to identify how big the problem is by speaking to customers and sizing the market.

5. What’s the solution?

1pm - 2pm Wednesday 12th of May 2021

Lead by David Grimm of UCL Tech Fund, learn how to convert the learnings gained from identifying a problem in a strong market into a powerful technical solution.

6. From Research to Business - Commercialisation pathways with UCL

1pm - 2pm Wednesday 19th of May 2021

Lead by Marina Santilli of UCLB and David Grimm of UCL Tech Fund, this session will help you learn the different routes to build a relationship with UCL and your idea from patenting and licenses to investment.

7. Meet your MBA Match - Validating the Business Opportunity

1pm - 2pm Wednesday 26th of May 2021

In partnership with one of London’s leading business schools, this session will match you with MBA students to explore the commercial opportunity further and get external validation for your idea.

8. How to build a practical Research-to-Product Strategy

1pm - 2pm Monday 7th of June 2021

Lead by Post Urban Ventures, building on the learnings so far, this session will help you plan a strategy for applying your research to a product ready for customers to use.

9. Presentation Day

1pm - 2pm Wednesday 16th of June 2021

The Presentation Day gives participants a chance to showcase their outputs from the programme to their colleagues and wider members of the CS department. It also gives participants an opportunity to find team members or collaborators for their ideas going forward.