Entrepreneurship and Commercialising Science Products

Your Digital Mentor Podcast

Sometimes publishing a paper that has the potential to impact might not be enough. You are driven to change: “potential” to “is” (Simon Travers). Scientists and researchers can create living products/businesses that have value and address key needs in the lives of others. We learn from Jenny, Simon, and Douglas about the how of this process.

They share their experiences initiating, supporting, and leading different companies, businesses, and projects, across the globe. They discuss how they navigate the murky waters of leading start-up companies, navigating politics around patents, seeking support, guidance, and resources, and challenges associated with the different aspects of being scientists and entrepreneurs.

Resources

Gathering for Open Science Hardware

https://openhardware.science/about/

Hyrax Biosciences

https://hyraxbio.co.za/

The Key to successful entrepreneurship in the life sciences

https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/the-key-to-successful-entrepreneurship-in-the-life-sciences/

Science and entrepreneurship: Different careers, common ground

http://blog.cdnsciencepub.com/science-and-entrepreneurship-different-careers-common-ground/

Guest information

Douglas Sanyahumbi is an innovation management professional with over 15 years of experience facilitating the commercialisation of research outputs. Currently based in Malawi, Doug is actively involved in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation activities with aspiring entrepreneurs and at research institutions in Malawi and several other African countries through different projects. LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougsanyas/

Jenny Molloy is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge where she builds open source tools for distributed manufacturing of enzymes for biological research. She also co-founded three social enterprises and communities, working with collaborators in Africa, Latin America, and beyond to build an open, sustainable and equitable global bioeconomy. Twitter: jenny_molloy

Simon Travers is CEO of Hyrax Biosciences. He is a "reformed academic" who established a research programme in Ireland and subsequently in South Africa studying the molecular evolution of viruses. Hyrax Biosciences spun out of his research group in South Africa and was established to enable widespread access to DNA sequencing-based diagnostics. Hyrax Biosciences works with biotechnology companies and pathology labs providing them with software to easily analyse and interpret data and, where relevant, provide clinically actionable insights for patients. Twitter: @simon_trav

Acknowledgments

Editing by Mariana Vaz, https://www.marianacpvaz.com/

Research: Emmanuela Oppong & Alice Matimba

Producers: Emmanuela Oppong (Producer), Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Isabela Malta (Producer), Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer).

Host: Alice Matimba

Media and Marketing: Catherine Holmes

Music: https://freesound.org/s/477388/

Sponsors

ACSC: https://coursesandconferences.wellcomegenomecampus.org

WSI: https://www.sanger.ac.uk

SESH: https://www.seshglobal.org/