About Engage
From idea to action
An open mindset and mechanisms that stimulate entrepreneurship are essential for fostering innovation and leveraging research outcomes. Engage is a short, structured training program designed to identify new business opportunities and talent. Recognising the unique challenges women face in entrepreneurship, we are dedicated to offering additional support to help them navigate and overcome these obstacles.
Engage is…
A 9-week program for women who want to understand how to commercialize their research;
Criteria & Benefits
Participant Criteria
- Women researchers.
- At various career stages: Master’s, PhD, Postdoc, Principal Investigator and Research Assistant.
- From any sector or discipline.
- Affiliated with a regional college, research center, or university.
- Resident on the island of Ireland.
Benefits of Participation
- Acquire new skills, tools, and knowledge that enhance your professional abilities.
- Cultivate a mindset centered on innovation, creativity, and continuous improvement.
- Draw inspiration and practical advice from successful entrepreneurs.
- Engage with diverse like-minded peers, fostering valuable connections and collaborations.
- Establish a systematic approach to assessing the commercial potential of your innovations and research outcomes.
- Obtain a structured and well-defined roadmap to transform academic research into marketable products and services.
- Uncover and recognize your strengths and talents.
Program Details
Key Program Dates
- Program Application Opens: Monday, 09 September 2024
- Researcher Briefing: Monday, Monday, 16 September 2024
- Program Application Closes: Monday, 30 September 2024
- Engage Shortlist Announced: Friday, 04 October 2024
- Engage Program Commences: Monday, 14 October 2024
- Engage Program Concludes: Monday, 09 December 2024
Program Schedule
The Engage program will be conducted virtually, featuring five online workshops scheduled from 09:00 to 12:00 GMT. Each participant will also receive individual mentor support. Shortlisted participants are expected to commit to attending all workshops and mentor sessions, ensuring no scheduling conflicts. Additionally, participants should allocate one hour of work outside of the scheduled workshops.
- Workshop 01: Entrepreneurial Mindset, Monday, 14 October 2024
- Workshop 02: Opportunity Assessment, Monday, 21 October 2024
- Mentorship 01: One-to-one Meeting, Monday, 28 October 2024
- Workshop 03: Customer Centricity, Monday, 04 November 2024
- Workshop 04: Ecosystem Mapping, Monday, 11 November 2024
- Mentorship 02: One-to-one Meeting, Monday, 18 October 2024
- Workshop 05: Dynamic Delivery, Monday, 25 November 2024
- Showcase: Researcher Reflections, Monday, 09 December 2024
Award
Upon program completion, fellows will receive a Certificate of Completion for 25 training hours. The Engage program will be further enhanced with two months of alumni peer exchange in Spring 2025, to signpost to next stage supports.
Cohort
Engage is a competitive program designed for ambitious women in academic research at third-level institutions on the island of Ireland. Up to 20 participants will be selected for this inaugural cohort.
Cost
Intellectual Property
All IP resides with the researcher and academic institution. This means that any innovations, discoveries, or creations made before and during the Engage program activities belong exclusively to them. This policy fosters an environment where researchers are encouraged to pursue innovative ideas and protect their creations.
Questions
Email A Query
Office Hours
Office Hours is a 15 minute chat with the program lead to understand whether Engage is a good fit for you.
Apply Today
How to Apply…
Step 01.
Begin by registering on the InterTradeIreland website. Please note it will take 24 hours to activate your account.
Step 02.
Once your registration is activated, you will receive the Engage program application via email. Fill out and submit this application to complete the process. Applications close at 13.00 GMT on Monday, 30 September 2024.