Research to Innovation Hatchery
Unlock the power of your research
Imagine transforming your research into a force that drives real-world change. The Research to Innovation Hatchery is designed to amplify your impact by exploring the tangible potential of your work if it’s unleashed through commercialisation. This programme will equip you with essential knowledge, skills, and capabilities in knowledge mobilisation and entrepreneurship, propelling your research to new heights.
Explore how you might empower your research to contribute to the world’s environmental, social, and economic prosperity through entrepreneurship. By participating in the Research to Innovation Hatchery, you’ll learn how to turn your research into actionable, impactful solutions through commercialisation. Open doors to new opportunities for your future projects and career.
Make a lasting difference with your research. Join the Research to Innovation Hatchery and become a catalyst for change.
Please note: This programme is exclusively available to postgraduate students (Master’s and Doctoral) engaged in research, as well as academic staff.
Register your interest to take part in Research to Innovation Hatchery in 2025.
Programme structure
The Research to Innovation Hatchery is a 12-week programme. The investment of your time will be paid back with new skills, knowledge and networks. Through online learning, group sessions, in-person workshops, customer interviews, and market feedback, participants are poised to discover how their research may have a far-reaching societal impact or unlock commercial opportunities.
The time commitment for the Research Innovation Hatchery is around 8 hours per week for the 12-week programme. If you are accepted in the programme, you commit to partake fully.
Learning outcomes
Throughout the Research to Innovation Hatchery programme, participants will learn about, apply and test how to translate their research project into practical applications.
Learning outcomes:
Gaining understanding of the idea to innovation process
Be able to apply entrepreneurial concepts, such as market validation, ideation, business model canvas to analyse challenges and create recommendations for future opportunities
Market validation
• Have identified areas for primary and secondary research for market validation
• Developed strategies for research mobilisation and commercialisation
• Have undertaken market validation conversations outside the University
Who should apply
The Research Innovation Hatchery is open to University of Auckland researchers of all disciplines.
The Research Innovation Hatchery is for individuals or teams who:
- Are motivated to make a difference through their research
- Are enthusiastic about exploring the real-world applications of their research
- See entrepreneurship as a possible way to do this
- Want help conceptualising what that pathway looks like
Whether the potential lies in commercialisation or societal impact, the programme helps participants harness the potential of their research.
All applications are shared with UniServices, ensuring that your research receives optimal protection and comprehensive support.
Benefits
By joining our Research to Innovation Hatchery, you will:
- Uncover opportunities for impact: Learn to identify and harness opportunities for both social and commercial impact, ensuring your research makes a meaningful difference.
- Learn and practise market validation: Test your assumptions through market validation, ensuring your research addresses a critical need.
- Prepare for investment success: Develop your research to attract potential venture investment, including opportunities from the $40m evergreen University of Auckland’s Inventors’ Fund.
- Build a transdisciplinary network: Connect with researchers from all faculties, providing you with a rich base for future endeavours.
Timing and commitment
Important dates and time commitments:
- 28-29 August – 2-day kick off workshop (10am-4pm)
- Tuesday 3 September – In-person group session (1hr)
- Tuesday 10 September – In-person group session (1hr)
- Tuesday 17 September – In-person group session with lunch (2hr)
- Tuesday 24 September – In-person group session (1hr)
- Thursday 26 September – Midway workshop (10am-4pm)
- Tuesday 1 October – In-person group session (1hr)
- Tuesday 8 October – In-person group session (1hr)
- Tuesday 15 October – In-person group session with lunch (2hr)
- Tuesday 22 October – In-person group session (1hr)
- Tuesday 29 October – In-person group session (1hr)
- Tuesday 5 November – In-person group session (1hr)
- Tuesday 12 November – In-person group session (1hr)
- Thursday 14 November – Final in-person presentation (10am-2pm)
Weekly 30-minute individual mentoring via Zoom on Fridays.
Cost
No charge. While there is no charge to join the programme, there is a cost to the University. Therefore, all applications will be assessed to ensure the best outcome for you and the University.
Pre-programme information sessions
Find out more about what you’ll get out of Research to Innovation Hatchery. Register for one of our information sessions and have all your questions answered:
Facilitation team
We will have a range of mentors and industry experts joining us for sessions throughout the programme.
Guy Bate
Guy is currently a Lecturer in Technology Commercialisation & Strategy at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland. Prior to entering academia, he worked for nearly 20 years in the pharmaceutical, health technology and biotechnology industries, leading strategy, new product planning, business transformation, and commercial operations. We are thrilled to have Guy on board as Academic Programme Director this year.
How to apply
Are you ready to amplify the influence of your research? Embark on a transformative journey with our bootcamp designed to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and equip you with the skills necessary to drive significant impact through your research endeavours.
Important Note: Your applications will be shared with UniServices, to ensure your research receives protection and maximum support.
Applications close 11 August.
Reviews
“Participating in the Researcher Hatchery programme was an opportunity for me to learn the skills necessary to actively push our research towards commercialisation. I learned so much. The programme has taught me the importance of early engagement with potential customers. What we thought was an ‘important research need’ was only our assumption/hypothesis as researchers and could be very different to what customers view as important. The programme has given us a practical skill set to engage potential customers to test our hypothesis.”
Haruna Suzuki-Kerr
Research Fellow – Medical and Health Sciences
EMAIL
CIE@AUCKLAND.AC.NZ
POSTAL ADDRESS
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
PRIVATE BAG 92019, AUCKLAND
