Scientific Director

Sotirios Karkalakos,

Professor, Department of Economics, University of Piraeus

Target Audience

The Course is aimed mainly at graduates of universities and technological institutes (AEI/TEI), business executives (and prospective executives), heads of human resources development departments, students of economics schools, and all those who follow developments in the field of business, Entrepreneurship and Business Administration.

Admission Requirements

Participants must have:

• Basic computer skills
• Internet access

A personal email account

Delivery Method

The training is delivered exclusively by distance learning, using a dedicated digital learning platform. It is asynchronous distance learning with notes, which makes it particularly easy for working people to take part. This type of training is a flexible form of professional development, as there are no restrictions of time or place. It is based on the principles of open education and serves the needs of personalised learning.

Type of Certificate

Trainees who successfully complete the Course are awarded a Training Certificate by KEDIVIM of the University of Piraeus, together with a Supplementary Annex. If successful completion of the Course is not possible owing to discontinuation of studies or failure in the examinations, the trainee is awarded a Certificate of Attendance by KEDIVIM of the University.

See a sample of the certificate awarded here

Units

1. Definition of invention and innovation. Types of innovation
2. How to protect my invention – Part 1
3. How to protect my invention – Part 2
4. How to finance your innovative business.
5. The open innovation model.
6. Understanding and researching the market for an innovative product (product adoption and diffusion).
7. How you can transfer technology from an organisation (university, research institute) to industry.
8. What you need to know about a licensing agreement.
9. A simple guide to the process/model of exploiting and commercialising innovation.
10. Case studies of Greek and international innovative small and medium-sized enterprises.
11. Final assignment

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Course, participants are intended to:

✔️ know the different types of intellectual property and how they can protect their own inventions (from the simplest to the most specialised).

✔️ be able to identify opportunities, design and implement innovative ideas, assess risks and manage outcomes

✔️ have understood the various strategies for exploiting their invention by setting up a startup or by licensing it to an existing company

Assessment

Learning outcomes are assessed through a final synthesis assignment of 700-1000 words, which is made available on specific dates and submitted to the Secretariat's email for grading. More specifically, participants are asked to design a short business plan based on an innovative product or service. The business plan should aim at exploiting an invention or an innovative product and should include proposals for addressing the challenges involved (e.g. funding, protection of the invention).

Discount Policy

The following discount categories apply:

1. GROUP A (-30%): persons with disabilities, unemployed persons, members of large families and families with three children, holders of a European Youth Card up to 30 years of age
2. GROUP B (-15%): Graduates and students of Greek or European institutions or schools (undergraduate and postgraduate), civil servants, military personnel and security forces
3. GROUP C (-10%): Re-enrolment of a trainee who has previously attended a different Course, or registration for at least 2 Courses of the same Cycle (with a common start date)

Please note that:

• Discounts are not cumulative.
• Each trainee may benefit from only one discount category.
• Participants entitled to a discount must submit the supporting documents that will be requested.

* For group registrations of more than ten (10) people, a 10% discount per trainee applies.

Course Fee after discount

Payment of Fees

Fees are payable in a single payment or in 2 equal instalments into the Special Account for Research Funds (ELKE) of the University of Piraeus (1st instalment upon registration, 2nd instalment no later than one month after the start date of the Course).

Failure to pay any instalment will result in the candidate's automatic exclusion from the remainder of the Course, the examinations and the award of the certificate.