Full support for developing your idea
Discover our extensive support for developing new research and innovation-based solutions - we are here to help you turn your ideas into reality. Let us guide you through the whole process, and give you the support you need to realise even greater benefits from your research!
Sustained support
Transitioning from an idea to a functional solution demands motivation and information. We are committed to providing ongoing support throughout this journey, assisting you in posing the right questions at the right junctures and helping you discover the answers.
Every idea's development is unique, influenced by factors such as the idea itself, the envisaged solution's design, and your development goals.
Regardless of your approach to realising your idea, we serve as your reliable sounding board, ready to address any questions that may arise along the way.
Get started!
It's never too early to share your ideas with us. In fact, the sooner you reach out, the better!
We understand the crucial aspects of the initial stages of idea development and can offer valuable contributions even as your idea or research result application begins to take shape.
Choose your way forward
An innovation is the application of a new solution to a need. It may involve new or improved ways of working, methods, processes, services or products being put into use. We recognise that every innovation project is different and do not provide ready-made strategies for moving from idea to innovation.
In some cases, this can be done by starting a new company to bring products or services to the market, in other cases by starting to collaborate with an established organisation to implement, for example, a new method or approach. In yet other situations, it may be by transferring or licensing intellectual property rights to a party for further development and commercialisation.
Which way forward creates the best possible conditions for your idea to become a reality? We can help you choose the right path based on the goal of your idea.
Structured idea development
To find out how your idea needs to evolve from an exciting research result to a practical solution, we work in a structured and step-by-step way to identify, define, evaluate and develop your idea.
All idea development is based on ensuring that there is a real need for the new solution, but also on understanding how the solution needs to be designed to be useful, and what needs to be done to get there. We help you to systematically address the questions and find the answers, either through our own advisors or through external experts.
So how does developing an idea with us work? Read on below and discover what we can help you with.
It's also good to know that our support is designed to allow you to continue researching and teaching while developing your idea. You don't have to choose, you can do both!
Identify and define your idea
Your research is the natural starting point for our dialogue. We help you identify interesting results that have the potential to create value beyond your immediate research environment. We discuss what challenges your results and knowledge could help solve and who the stakeholders might be.
We normally need to meet on a couple of occasions to help you formulate an idea based on your results, an idea that you can work on together with us.
What exciting ideas are hiding in your research results? In our quick self-test, you answer three questions about your research. It's a good start to finding your unique idea!
Evaluate your idea from multiple perspectives
Together we evaluate the idea that has now started to take shape and look at its feasibility, including whether there is a real need for the solution you want to develop. We look at several factors, including novelty value, potential applications, target audience, the need for control (including protection) of knowledge assets, and not least what your objective is.
Evaluating an idea is a process that normally takes 1-3 months.
- Do you want to explore the innovative potential of your idea alongside others? Do you also see a point in getting a focused start?
Read more about the Idea Exploration Programme - Do you have questions about how to protect your idea?
Read more about our support on intellectual property rights - Curious about funding opportunities for your idea?
Read more about funding to test your idea - Do you need help demonstrating the value of your idea to others?
Read more about how we can help you sharpen your pitch
Develop your idea with a sustainable roadmap
Once the most basic questions have been answered and there is a clearer picture of the benefits your idea offers, we focus on developing strategies to protect, validate and package your idea. We explore funding opportunities, help you establish relevant contacts, and explore team development needs and opportunities.
This phase can last from 6 to 24 months, and the goal is to make your innovation project flight-ready. Depending on your project, this could be an investment, a first customer or user, or perhaps a licence holder.
- Do you need help with patent applications and agreements?
With us, you can tap into expertise in intellectual property - Do you need funding to move forward with the development of your idea?
Read more about funding opportunities to test your idea - Would it be helpful to get feedback on your presentation for a meeting with a potential customer, partner or investor?
We give you the opportunity to practise your presentation and get feedback in a safe environment - Do you want an experienced mentor as an extra sounding board in your innovation project?
Discover UU Innovation's mentoring programme
Meet other innovators
By developing your idea with our support, you become part of a community of other researchers who have chosen to do the same.
You will be invited to events where you can learn from others, make new contacts and exchange ideas, challenges and experiences.
Contacts for further development
UU Innovation is Uppsala University's innovation office and therefore the natural first point of contact for researchers who want to develop an idea and create new research-based solutions. When you are further along in the development of your idea, there are several other organisations that offer support and funding opportunities. We help you identify what support you and your idea need and put you in contact with relevant actors within Uppsala's innovation support system.
Investment & entrepreneurship
Contact us
Do you have an idea you'd like to discuss with us? Feel free to get in touch! We're always eager to hear about new ideas and exciting research.
Email us at innovation@uu.se