Innovation UBC Research Impact Challenge

Explore how to generate impact from your research with UBC’s wide range of support, including the expertise and resources of Innovation UBC's Innovation Partnerships, the Knowledge Exchange Unit, entrepreneurship@UBC and the University-Industry Liaison Office.

Registration for the education sessions is open to all UBC faculty, students and staff.

UBC faculty members, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows or research associates whose UBC research is the basis of the idea can enter as individuals or as part of a team.

Teams must have at least one member whose UBC research is the basis for the team's idea.

If your idea is venture-based, it must be at a stage that is pre-incorporation of a company.

If you have completed Phase 2 or later of the entrepreneurship@UBC incubator program you are not eligible to enter this competition.

Delve deeper into the challenge format and expected outcomes, and network with peers and mentors.

Learn about the process of developing your research idea through to impact at these weekly 90-minute sessions. They will include 40 min presentations, followed by breakout sessions and review of the previous week’s mini-challenge.

Receive valuable feedback from peers and mentors through mini-challenges that will prepare you to present your idea at the pitch competition.

February 22 (noon-1:00pm): Kickoff event
Learn more about what to expect from the competition, hear from previous participants, ask questions and start to build your network. 

February 25 (noon-1:30pm): Research-to-Impact at UBC
Learn how Innovation UBC can help you transform your research into impact via partnerships, commercialization, venture-building and knowledge exchange.

March 4 (noon-1:30pm): Exploring the value of your idea
What problem are you solving? Why is your idea valuable? What will be the result? How can it leverage the expertise and assets of the community and how can it contribute to it? Answering these questions can play a key role in generating impacts from your research. Learn to identify your key motivations and how to communicate them. Shape your story and learn how to deliver it.

March 11 (noon-1:30pm): Where does your idea fit?
Learn the value in conducting research and sizing the opportunity within your target demographic: is your innovation something they need and/or want? How will your innovation create a positive impact for them? Discover key strategies for segmenting your market and understanding your “customer.”

March 18 (noon-1:30pm): Protecting and sharing your research
Whether your idea involves social or economic impact, it’s important to understand what ownership of your research looks like, and how to safely protect or share it. Learn what intellectual property (IP) means in relation to your idea/project, as well as exploring topics such as open-source content, copyrights, patents and trademarks.

March 25 (noon-1:30pm): Building effective partnerships
Knowledge exchange facilitates the transition from research to impact by engaging with the various stakeholders who can help drive informed positive change. Forging partnerships with other researchers, businesses, industry, or community organization scan bring new and interdisciplinary perspectives, funding, networking opportunities and increase alignment with needs and the likelihood of research use. Learn about Innovation UBC’s resources to facilitate a partnership that will elevate your innovation.

April 1 (noon-1:30pm): Financing your innovation
Learn about how to obtain the capital required to advance your innovation. Be it funding or grants related to partnerships, knowledge exchange, entrepreneurship or commercialization, Innovation UBC has experts who can assist you to find and secure funding opportunities that will help your innovation succeed.

April 8 (noon-1:30pm): Preparing for the pitch and what’s next?
After six weeks of sessions, you’ve gained perspective on how Innovation UBC can help you generate impacts from your research. This session will prepare you for our final showcase, where you will have the opportunity to network with, and present your project to, peers, potential partners, mentors, judges and industry representatives. Learn how to deliver a pitch that will hook your audience and get you to the next step in your innovation!

Entry to the pitch competition is not required for education session registration.

Yes. In order to compete at the final competition, registrants must attend (live or recorded) all education sessions.

Yes. Details for accessing the sessions (via Zoom) will only be shared with registered participants.

We've got you covered. Sessions will be recorded and accessible to all registered participants after they have finished.

The mini challenges are short exercises that will allow you to take the themes of the education session and apply them to your impact idea. Over the course of the education sessions the mini-challenges will provide you with a blueprint to inform your pitch.

Take your education session learnings to the next level, and compete to win prizes and accolades that will help you take the next steps in developing your innovation.

Pitches will articulate your idea and how you plan to meet the challenge of generating impact.

Present your idea to potential partners, innovation leaders, venture specialists, mentors and investors.

Be inspired by the pitches of your fellow competitors.

Don’t forget, you must attend all registration sessions to be eligible to compete!

First place
$1,500 cash prize, innovation development services from appropriate Innovation UBC units: Innovation Partnerships, the Knowledge Exchange Unit, entrepreneurship@UBC and the University-Industry Liaison Office.
Second place
$1,000 cash prize, innovation development services from appropriate Innovation UBC units: Innovation Partnerships, the Knowledge Exchange Unit, entrepreneurship@UBC and the University-Industry Liaison Office.
Third place
$500 cash prize, innovation development services from appropriate Innovation UBC units: Innovation Partnerships, the Knowledge Exchange Unit, entrepreneurship@UBC and the University-Industry Liaison Office.

Following completion of the education sessions and mini-challenges, applicants will be selected to present at the online pitch competition on May 6 to a panel of potential partners, innovation leaders, venture specialists, mentors and investors.