Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
Questions will be resolved before or after class. To resolve non-face-to-face questions, this will be done by videoconference.
Introduction
The course is aimed at showing the key elements in the creation of technology-based companies and their management. Throughout the course four chapters/subjects will be studied (Strategy, Finance, Marketing and Commercial Law) that make up the hard core of all business management. In addition, the subject modifies the contents for biomedical companies and start-ups.
Pre-course requirements
None.
Objectives
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To know the basic concepts for the creation of companies and their strategic direction.
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To know the basics of business finance.
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To know the basic concepts of marketing with special reference to product development.
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To know the basic concepts of commercial law in the creation of companies and protection of intellectual property.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- To identify the stages of the process of transferring basic knowledge to a product, technology or service as well as the methods for entrepreneurship and innovation that facilitate the stages of knowledge transfer.
- To recognize the different fields and the dynamics of the biomedical company in which a graduate in Biomedical Sciences can practice.
- The ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific or ethical nature.
- To develop those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.
- That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialized and non-specialized audiences
- To develop the capacity for organization and planning appropriate to the moment.
- To develop the capacity for analysis and synthesis.
- To be able to teamwork.
- Reasoning and evaluating situations and results from a critical and constructive point of view.
Learning outcomes of the subject
At the end of the course, the student:
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Understands entrepreneurship strategies, knows how to use business plans as a work tool and understands the role of bio-incubators in the transfer of knowledge.
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Knows the basic processes for the creation of companies in the academic environment (spin-off) as well as the necessary tools to manage it effectively.
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Knows the basic principles of business finance.
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Knows the basic principles of marketing and, with a special reference, the product development processes.
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Gets to know the basic principles that regulate start-up law.
Syllabus
1) Business strategy
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Company vs start-up
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Business plan
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Canvas
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Objectives and Key Results
2) Finance
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Basic accounting
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Net present value
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R&D taxation
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Financing of start-ups
3) Marketing
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Introduction
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Promotion: segmentation and positioning
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Pricing strategies
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Placement
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Product:
i. Agile
ii. SCRUM
iii. Kanban
iv. Inception Deck
4) Commercial law
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Corporate structure
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Contract
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Partner agreements
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Protection of intellectual property
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Technology transfer
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Lectures: 50-minute presentation of a theoretical topic by the teacher.
Clinical cases or case methods (CM): Approach to a real or imaginary situation. Students work on the questions formulated in small groups or in interaction with the teacher and the answers are discussed. The teacher actively intervenes and, if necessary, contributes new knowledge.
Virtual education (VE): Online material that the student can consult from any computer, at any time and that will contribute to the self-learning of concepts related to the subject.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1) Students in first sitting:
Class participation and attitude: 50%
Business plan presentation: 50%
2) Students in second or subsequent sitting: the continuous assessment mark will be saved. In case of failure, only the notes from the presentation of the business plan will be taken into account.
The presentation of the business plan in the second sitting may only aspire to a maximum mark of 6 out of 10.
General points to bear in mind about the evaluation system:
1) In the presentation of the business plan, a minimum grade of 5 must be obtained in order to attain an average.
2) Attendance for case methods is mandatory. In the case of unjustified non-attendance, the class participation and attitude grade will be 0.
3) Class participation is understood to be the contribution of interesting ideas or the raising of pertinent questions that help to improve the quality of the session, whether it is a lecture or case methods.
4) Attendance for theoretical classes is not compulsory but the attendees must be governed by the rules laid down by the teachers. In the case of not arriving on time, enter in silence without disturbing or interrupting the class. In the case of non-attendance at a minimum of 65% of sessions, the participation in class will be given low marks.
Bibliography and resources
The Enterpreneur’s Guide to a Biotech Startup.
Peter Kolchinsky. www.evelexa.com .
Free download: https://www.ctsi.ucla.edu/researcher-resources/files/view/docs/EGBS4_Kolchinsky.pdf
Evaluation period
- E1 22/12/2021 A08 14:00h