Phase A

Step 1: Check the Commercialisation PLUS options for your technology solution

This step is about assessing if your technology solution has a potential market or commercial path to impact, or whether it has a public good or other path to impact.

Step 1 aims to help you understand:

• If your technology solution is at a stage to start incorporating market needs and priorities into your research and development process.
• If similar ideas are already in the public domain.
• If your research funding arrangements permit commercialisation.

Learn why Dr Le Thi Nhi Cong (Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology)  and her team decided to commercialise their technology solution, which uses microorganisms to biodegrade environmental pollution. Dr Le Thi Nhi Cong also discusses how they managed constraints from their funder to successfully pursue commercialisation.

Step 2: Refine your understanding of the market problems your solution is addressing

Most researchers focus on optimising and refining the technical aspects of their technology solution. Step 2 is about switching this focus to testing assumptions about why the market would be interested in your technology solution.

Step 2 will help you test these assumptions and understand:

• More about your technology solution’s value chain.
• Who in the value chain will benefit or be affected by your technology solution (i.e. potential users, beneficiaries, or customers).
• The potential contribution of your technology to society, the environment, and the economy.
• The challenges faced by end-users and customers.

Learn how mapping the value chain helped Dr Nguyen Xuan Truong (Viet Nam National University of Agriculture) and his team to better understand the risks and opportunities associated with their business model for producing high yielding disease-free potatoes.

Step 3: Consider your legal and regulatory obligations to protect your Intellectual Property and legally launch in the market

Step 3 aims will help you understand the legal and regulatory considerations and requirements for use and protection of Intellectual Property for your technology solution. This step focuses primarily on setting up the foundations needed for your Intellectual Property Strategy (which is developed and executed in later steps).

Successful commercialisation requires compliance with local laws and regulations for protecting your Intellectual Property, and appropriately acknowledging the use of Intellectual Property and regulations for the market in which you plan to launch your technology solution.

Learn what Dr Le Thi Thu Huong (Viet Nam National University of Agriculture) gained by considering the legal and regulatory requirements before advancing too far in the commercialisation process.