Designing for Scale: Commercialising Chemistry

Learning Outcomes

Disciplinary Specific Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Demonstrate an ability to work with information that may be incomplete or uncertain, quantify the effect of this on the design and, where appropriate, use theory or experimental research to mitigate deficiencies
• Demonstrate an ability to apply a comprehensive understanding of the design process and methodologies and to adapt these for use in unfamiliar situations
• Demonstrate the ability to generate an innovative design for a new process or product based on the prior outcomes of fundamental research.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically evaluate the sustainability and health and safety issues associated with the commercialisation of a chemical process or material.
• Summarise the key findings of research papers published in the chemistry literature and describe the commercial opportunity represented by those publications.
• Generate designs for a commercial process, system, or product that consider and address stakeholder requirements.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Prepare a technical evaluation of a business opportunity and present the outcome both in writing and as an oral presentation.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with persons serving in the capacity of a client.

Each student will be paired with a member of chemistry research staff, taking into account the interests of the student by use of a system that allows the student to list their preferences. The student will then serve as a consultant to the chemist to develop the business case for the commercialisation of some aspect of the chemist's research or research selected by the chemist. The student will meet with the chemist fortnightly to discuss the project.

The development of the commercialisation plan will be supported by a series of lectures:

understanding chemistry research papers and the chemical literature;

preparation of business plans, economics, and the commercialisation process;

spin-outs, licensing, and other aspects of the protection and exploitation of intellectual property;

seminars from external speakers and case study examples illustrating the commercialisation of chemistry research;

briefing sessions to support each of the assessments.

Lectures, talks by external speakers, and regular meetings with the student's 'client'.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.