Is scientific entrepreneurship right for you? Explore in a safe space.
What is scientific entrepreneurship?
From breakthrough cancer detection tools to new ways of serving underprivileged groups, solutions to pressing challenges often remain locked in academic journals. Scientific entrepreneurship bridges the gap between theory and application to solve real-world problems through the lens of entrepreneurship.
The Quebec Scientific Entrepreneurship Program is the starting point in a researcher’s exploration of scientific entrepreneurship. You’ll learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, see your research through an entrepreneurial perspective, and connect with experts that will help you take your idea to the next level.
Program Overview
12 weeks
x4 cohorts/year
spring and fall
1hr live virtual workshop
+
2hrs self-directed work
per week
12pm to 1pm/weekly
English: Tuesday
French: Thursday
Curriculum Overview
In the first three weeks of the program, we demystify entrepreneurship and draw inspiration from scientific entrepreneurs and their stories. We explore the commonalities between academic research and entrepreneurship, highlighting how entrepreneurial skills are valuable no matter the path you pursue, whether it be academia, industry, or your own ventures. Through practical tools, you’ll begin to reframe your academic research through an entrepreneurial lens in order to refine or develop an entrepreneurial idea (even if it’s hypothetical), and we’ll go through the key elements in a business model canvas.
It’s time to present your project idea in a safe space and receive constructive feedback. At this stage, it’s about clearly articulating the problem you aim to solve for the first time to a non-technical audience. Through practical exercises, you’ll refine your understanding of customer segments and customer discovery interviews, and explore the importance of a clear value proposition and product roadmaps.
During this last phase of the program, you’ll gain a foundational understanding of intellectual property (IP). We then focus on crafting a compelling pitch that effectively communicates your entrepreneurial project. You’ll test the entrepreneurial waters in a low-stakes environment by presenting your pitch to a panel of experts from a number of Quebec incubators and accelerators, and receive valuable feedback, whether your project is real or hypothetical.
What our participants love most about the QcSE Program?
Finding A New Community
One of the unexpected benefits of the QcSE program is connecting with like-minded researchers from universities across the province. Engaging with a diverse community in STEM, social sciences and humanities not only expands your network but also opens doors to potential collaborations for your project, startup, or beyond.
Spring 2024 Cohort Alumni, Amardip Kumar Singh and Monica Vaillancourt met during the QcSE program, discovered a shared passion for supporting newcomers to Canada, and co-founded Settle Well.
Cindy Hovington, Curious Neuron founder and CEO, discovered a passion for sharing her business idea through the QcSE program.
Pitching their ideas to experts
The program connects you with numerous experts from incubators and accelerators, who offer valuable feedback on how to pitch your idea. By engaging with them, you can explore opportunities to join their programs and continue developing your entrepreneurial project.
Meeting Startup Founders
What’s it really like to launch a startup? How do you secure funding? How do you protect your IP? Fellow researchers turned entrepreneurs have navigated these challenges and have the answers to your burning questions! Participants love hearing from scientific entrepreneurs and their journeys.
Nanofacile founder and CEO Ruben Lopez and Scikoop founder and CEO Adèle Salin-Cantegral share their journeys from academic to entrepreneur with QcSE program participants.
Program Eligibility
You are a graduate student, postdoc or researcher affiliated with a Quebec university or research institute
OR
you are a francophone graduate student, postdoc or researcher outside the province of Quebec affiliated to a Canadian university or research institution
OR
you fulfill either of the conditions above but have recently graduated.
