Innovation Programmes at bwcon

• Technology Scouting• Talent Promotion • Knowledge Transfer• Innovation Labs• Investment Forums

Mission Statement

We recognise the potential of new technological developments in an early stage and provide

systematic cooperation projects between science and industry.

Cooperative research, the transfer of inventions into marketable products and the training of

talents are at the center of all our activities, e.g. via contests, interactive workshops and

matchmaking events.

We provide talents the opportunity to work together across disciplines along the value chain –

under one umbrella. Companies are connected to (prospective) founders and students.

Alexandra Rudl Head of Innovation Programmes & Effectuation Coach

Corinna Voß Innovation Programme Manager & Design Thinking Coach

Simona Pede Innovation Programme Manager & Lean Startup Coach

Valentina Grillea Innovation Programme Manager

Lukas VonnahmeProject Assistant

Ideas Workshop

Target group: Students interested in business creation

Content: A one week workshop where students getfamiliarised with business development topics. Participants learn about all established methods withinthe context of entrepreneurship – from Design Thinking and Effectuation to Lean Startup. Participantswill use the methods for their own ideas which theydevelop during the workshop.

Reference: Ideas Workshop at University ofApplied Sciences Esslingen http://ideenwerkstatt.gruenderstall.de/

Business Recognition Workshop

Target group: Reseachers and PhD students

Content: Researchers get familiarised withinstruments that support them in identifying the commercialization potential of their research as wellas to present their research results in front of variousstakeholders. During the two-day workshop, the concepts and methods are tested together via a peerreview procedure.

Reference: Business Recognition Workshop as part ofEntrepreneurship Academy at University of Tübingenwww.entrepreneurship-tuebingen.dehttp://bit.ly/1DCRBpJ

One-day seminar„Promotion of Entrepreneurial Thinking with Effectuation“

Target group: Representatives of SMEs and large companies as well asprospective founders

Content: If the future is not predictable, common managementmethods (set goals – plan – implement) reach their limits. In thisworkshop participants learn about a method which accepts the unpredictable and supports the participants to act without fixed plans. This method is called Effectuation and is based on thought and behaviorpatterns of experienced entrepreneurs. In addition to imparting knowledge of methods, creative techniques are used to promote entrepreneurship in the workshop.

Reference: Effectuation workshop at Black Forest Acceleratorhttp://bit.ly/1F21xqCEffectuation workshop at Creative Camp 2014, Lake Constancehttp://bit.ly/1cPcgy9

Target group: Researchers, students, founders, start-ups, SMEs

Content: Design Thinking is a method to generate creativesolutions for complex problems. The process works best withso called wicked (meaning ill-defined or tricky) problems. Design Thinking is both a process and a way of addressingdifficult situations: Trial and error, discovering new things, experimenting team work and remaining curious areimportant components of this method. Participants learn todevelop disruptive solutions for complex situations in a positive and collaborative manner. The method can be usedfor various topics and stakeholders.

Reference:Workshop at University of Applied Sciences Esslingen http://ideenwerkstatt.gruenderstall.de/

One-day seminar„Design Thinking: Creative Solutions to Wicked Problems“

One-day seminar„Presentation and Pitching Training“

Target group: Researchers with a business idea, entrepreneurs in early innovation phases, start-ups

Content: In this communication and presentation trainingparticipants learn how to pitch effectively in front of investors, market players and other stakeholders. Different styles of pitchessuch as elevator pitches are tackled. Elaborating presentationstrategies, finding the right structure, communicating complextopics effectively and practising the presentation in teams areimportant aspects of this workshop.

Reference: Pitch Training at Netfutures Conference in Brusselshttp://bit.ly/1DcxEmm

InnovateBW –Boosting innovation in established companies

Target group: SMEs and large companies

Content: InnovateBW is a new programme giving SMEs and large companies the possibility to open up their innovation processes aswell as to scout skilled personnel of technology oriented studyprogrammes.

In a six-month process, students and (prospective) founders workon relevant problems of the participating companies. The bestteams are awarded at the final award ceremony. bwcon organisesthe whole innovation process and supports the participants withentrepreneurial trainings.

The process is conducted individually for each company and will bepromoted with its individual branding.

Heidelberg Innovation Forum

Target group: Researchers with a businessidea and early stage founders

Content: Researchers and founders presenttheir business ideas in a 6-minutes pitchinfront of investors and stakeholders. A preceding choaching day gives participantsthe possibility to learn about buisnessmodeling, funding and pitching.

Link: www.heidelberg-innovationforum.eu

Green Innovation and Investment Forum - GIIF

Target groups: Academics with a business idea andearly stage founders

Content: Selected international participants from the Green Industry sectors are invited to present their business ideas to investors, business angels, VCs and industries. At the Green Training Day experts help start-ups and entrepreneurs to get investor-ready for the pitching event.

Reference: Green Innovation and Investment Forum 2015 www.green-inno-forum.eu

Contact

Alexandra RudlHead of Innovation Programmesbwcon GmbH – Turning Ideas into Business rudl@bwcon.de0711-18421-641