So, what is an innovation?
"That's a good question. The simple answer is: come and talk to us! We are always curious about your research and tailor our support to the needs of the project," says innovation developer Cecilia Jädert.
"Together, we can explore how your idea or research results can be of benefit to someone else. It can be a technology that you don't know how to apply, or a method, service or product. Our support can include, for example, conducting an analysis of prospective customers and users and investigating willingness to pay or whether the solution should be protected with a patent application."
What is your best tip for researchers who may have an innovation in the pipeline?
"If you are a researcher with a possible innovation, it is high time to come and talk to us. We are always curious about your research and tailor our support to the needs of the project.”
What mistakes, or pitfalls, do you want to avoid?
"A common mistake is to come to us too late if you have exciting results. Please contact us before your results are published or presented during a conference, so that we get a chance to evaluate whether the solution should be protected in order to be developed into an innovation. We would like you to contact us a few months before you plan to submit your manuscript for publication.”
What is required (of the researcher) to get support from LU Innovation?
"Ideally, you should have some research results and be employed or associated with Lund University. As I said, we are always interested in hearing about your research!"
They took the step to start a business
"In the beginning, we thought as researchers. Now we also think like entrepreneurs," says Cristiana Pires at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, who after contact with LU Innovation started a company together with colleagues Felipe Pereira and Fábio Rosa.
Transforming the shape and function of cancer cells so that they help kick-start the fight against cancer. This is the basic idea on which the Swedish biotech company Asgard Therapeutics is based.
"Our goal is to start clinical trials within 3 to 4 years," says Cristiana Pires, CEO and one of the company's founders.
About LU Innovation
LU Innovation’s mission is to help ideas from Lund University improve our world and the human condition. Together with researchers and students, we develop ideas and research findings into innovations – solving urgent problems and creating value.
Workshop: Explore how your medical research can be put to use through innovation
Time and place: Thursday 12 September at 8.30am to 9.30am, BMC:E11074 Bildningen, Sölvegatan 19, Lund
Sign up by sending an email by 9 September if you want to participate: info [at] innovation [dot] lu [dot] se