Stage 1: a rapid introduction to help researchers think like innovators

Lens of the Market Stage 1: Research2Innovation

Join us for Lens of the Market® Stage 1 Research2Innovation. Let us help your teams of STEM researchers gain a rapid introduction to the vocabulary, skills, tools, and road map needed to successfully translate their research into products meeting market requirements.

NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE in technology commercialization is required! And all you need is the research you are working on – we use that as the basis of the program!

The Details

Research2Innovation

Can I be a STEM Innovator? Is there a program out there that is tailored to ME to help me get the skills to inform my research by market and societal need? YES! It's Lens of the Market! Developed expressly for STEM researchers. NO previous commercial experience necessary! Early stage research welcome!

Join us to gain a Lens of the Market and find out how your research can bring value and solve market challenges.

Contact us for more information on moving research from bench to market.

Download an Overview of Lens of the Market
  • Description Teams of 3-5 STEM professionals working on research together who are interested in translating their research into innovations (no business plan or skills needed)text goes here

  • Up to 5 teams of 5 participants per team

  • 8 hours over 1 or 2 days

  • The structure of business markets and how they relate to your research. It addresses what aspects of your research can become innovations to address market needs. During the workshop you and your team define preliminary applications and markets that could use your innovations to address market needs. You determine if your potential invention really is an innovation and whether it is a platform technology. You explore the concept of life-cycle analysis and building sustainable value. And most importantly, Stage 1: Research2Innovation provides additional skills for career success to undergrads, graduate students and post docs – regardless of the career path you take.

  • After participating in the workshop, you and your team will have a defined preliminary set of innovations and markets into which your research can be applied. You will have example value chains for example defined markets, as well as an outline of resources required for successful research to innovation translation upon which a go-forward plan can be based. And you will have a vocabulary and integrated overview of how your research weaves with market intelligence to become potential innovations – and which can act as a basis for individual career choices.

Lens of the Market Stages 1, 2 and 3 are provided by experts who have commercialized technology from start-ups to the Fortune 100. The training can either fully virtual or a combination of face-to-face and virtual to fit your organization’s needs and budget.


Schedule a Stage 1 Workshop tailor for your research teams

Interested in holding a Lens of the Market Stage 1 workshop or incorporating us into a grant application? Please contact us! We look forward to working with you.

What participants are saying about Lens of the Market

To learn that there are some helpful steps that we can follow in order to translate any research fundamental idea into innovation ideas.
— University of Wisconsin Madison
It is extremely relevant and important information for future scientific entrepreneurs. This is information we don’t get to see in science classes.
— University of Texas at El Paso
I believe the training I received is invaluable as a scientist. I would recommend all scientists to go through this process to learn about innovation.
— Oregon State University

This workshop was developed in part with a grant from the National Science Foundation, Chemistry Division to the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance, grant # 0926490. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.