What is Lab2Market?
Participants will come away from the Lab2Market Symposium with a strong understanding of the technology commercialization process, and the entrepreneurial mindset and toolkit to recognize and evaluate future business opportunities in their own research and professional career.
During the workshop, participants will hear from UC faculty founders and learn about the entrepreneurial resources available to them at UC. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to gain feedback on their research from local entrepreneurs and investors familiar with the market landscape in their research area.
Who, When and Where?
The Lab2Market Symposium 2025 will take place on Tuesday, September 23rd from 8:30am to 4:00pm at the 1819 Innovation Hub. This free event is intended for UC graduate students with a STEM (Science-Technology-Engineeing-Math) research area of focus.
Why Attend?
Participants will come away from the Lab2Market Symposium day with a strong understanding of the technology commercialization process and the entrepreneurial mindset and toolkit to recognize and evaluate future business opportunities in their own research and professional career. During the workshop, participants will hear from UC faculty founders and learn about the entrepreneurial resources available to them at UC. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to gain feedback on their research from local entrepreneurs and investors familiar with the market landscape in their research area.
Transportation
Free transportation from the UC Main campus to the 1819 Innovation Hub is available through the 1819 Innovation District Shuttle Bus which leaves regularly in front of the Carl H. Lindner College of Business every 25 minutes. Students who prefer to drive are welcome to park at the 1819 Innovation Hub on the day of the event for free.
Top Applicants Receive $100 Scholarship
The top 100 applications will be invited to attend the symposium in-person and receive a $100 scholarship applied to their Catalyst account for their participation courtesy of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. (note: such payment could adjust or limit federal aid eligibility so if you have any concerns consult the Financial Aid office before the credit is distributed to your account --post-event September 23rd).
All applicants will be able to participate virtually in portions of the day's programming. The top 100 selected attendees will be expected to participate in a pre-event, lead-up workshop to prepare them for how to share their research to others in the context of the market landscape.
Application Process
Lab2Market is open to all UC graduate students whose research connects in some way to a STEM discipline. Participants will be selected based on their research and commercialization interests.
Apply to the Lab2Market 2025 Symposium here.
Agenda
8:30 – Coffee & Networking
9:00 – Opening Remarks; Understanding the Technology Commercialization Process
10:00 – UC researcher founder panel
11:00 – Examining Your Research Through the Lens of the Market
12:15 – Lunch
1:00 – Breakout Sessions with Entrepreneurial Mentors and Startup Cincy Entrepreneurs/Investors
3:30 – UC's Commercialization Pathway
4:00 - Conclusion
Presented by
In Partnership With
Over 200 graduate students have participated in Lab2Market since its' inception in 2022!
Participant Testimonials
As a Ph.D. student navigating the realm of practical research, I often encounter the challenge of aligning product development with academic expectations. Innovative projects with real-world applications can be undervalued in academic settings, especially when they don't fit the traditional mold of research.
This prevailing academic mindset often steers students towards conventional research paths, focusing more on publications than on causing real-world impact. Here, the Lab2Market program has been a game-changer for me. It not only incentivizes bringing innovative solutions to the market but also provides practical guidance to actualize them.
— Lab2Market 2023 participant
The program so far has helped me think out of the box and made me realize that focusing just on the technical part of my research is not enough as it will alone not help me make an impact. I gained knowledge about doing market research, finding competitors, targeting the right market, and focusing on the differentiators. I never knew that I had to focus on these areas. I think this will help me a lot in the next two years of my Ph.D. to work on my dissertation where I can first ask myself if there is a need for whatever I am doing.
— Lab2Market 2024 participant
- Apply Now
Deadline: Applications are due on Sunday, September 7 at 11:59pm. Applicants will be notified by September 10th of their status. Participants will be required to attend a brief pre-event workshop the week of September 15th that will help prepare them in discussing their research to others in public and through the lens of the market.
