Bridging Research and Entrepreneurship: An Innovative Educational and Experiential Approach

Susanna Bardini, Mirko Coggi, Laura Ginestretti, Guido Walter Di Donato, Marco D. Santambrogio

Abstract: NECSTLab at Politecnico di Milano is a pioneering research laboratory that integrates cutting-edge academic research with entrepreneurial ventures. Its mission is to bridge the gap between research and real-world applications, encouraging students and researchers to consider the societal impact of their innovations. NECSTLab promotes an interdisciplinary approach, combining technical expertise with business acumen to drive innovation. The lab's strategy includes fostering an entrepreneurial mindset through courses that equip students with the tools to transform research into viable products or services. This paper introduces an innovative approach to address the challenges of transitioning academic research into market commercialization. By focusing on early-stage collaboration between researchers and industry, and incorporating market analysis, prototype development, and business model validation, this process supports the commercialization of research. The proposed pipeline has been implemented and validated within the NECSTLab environment, demonstrating its efficacy in fostering entrepreneurship and translating academic research into successful commercial ventures. This is exemplified by case studies showcasing the pipeline's effectiveness in transforming innovative research into market-ready solutions while fostering entrepreneurial initiatives and driving impactful innovation.