UU Innovation Mentor Programme

In this programme, you have the invaluable opportunity to be paired with a mentor who brings experience, knowledge and a network that aligns with your idea and objectives, advancing your innovation project further.

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Quick facts about the mentor programme

The programme runs: twice a year, February to November and September to May, respectively.

The programme comprises: six individual meetings with your mentor. There is also a joint kick-off and wrap-up for all participants and mentors.

Who can apply: Researchers, PhD candidates, and students at Uppsala University, both individually and in teams, who are driving an innovation project with the support of UU Innovation. You should be prepared to dedicate time and commitment to developing your project in collaboration with a mentor. Additionally, you need to be affiliated with the university throughout the programme's duration.

Extra support: having a mentor means having an additional source of support for matters related to the development of your idea. It complements the support you receive from UU Innovations advisors, allowing you to make faster progress with your innovation project and gain more knowledge along the way.

After the programme: you will have gained new knowledge and contacts relevant to the continued development of your innovation project.

Contact: If you have any questions or simply want more information, please get in touch with Frida Johnson or reach out directly to your advisory contact at UU Innovation.

Broaden your horizons

The mentor programme is designed for individuals actively engaged in an innovation project with the support of UU Innovation. This implies that you have already taken steps in developing an idea for broader application. You are a researcher, a PhD candidate, or a student at Uppsala University seeking additional support and motivation to advance your project.

In addition to receiving an extra boost in the development of your innovation project, having a mentor entails:

Gaining fresh perspectives on your idea, your research, and how they can be applied to address current and future challenges.
Acquiring new knowledge by learning from the experiences and expertise of others.
Expanding your network and making valuable contacts beyond the academic sphere.

Application is now open!

Now you can apply to the UU Innovation mentor programme and gain new skills and networks to take your idea to the next level. Apply by 15 May for the chance to have a mentor for the autumn semester.

Apply here!

How the mentor programme works

We match you with a carefully selected mentor who operates outside the academic sphere and possesses relevant experience from the business world and society, pertinent to your project.
Your mentor imparts their knowledge, assists in opening doors, and offers fresh perspectives on your idea. The mentor dedicates their time pro bono to advance your innovation project.
You and your mentor engage in six individual meetings, with you taking the initiative to schedule these sessions. The focus of these meetings revolves around the challenges and questions you wish to discuss in relation to your project, so it's essential to consider what you hope to gain from each meeting. UU Innovation can provide suggestions on meeting themes if needed.
As support, you and your mentor also have a working document that focuses on key issues in an innovation project and helps provide structure in the development of your idea.
You will also receive guidance from UU Innovation's advisors, and we will continue to support you even after the programme's completion!
You will have the opportunity to meet others at Uppsala University who are developing ideas and share an interest in creating value and contributing to innovative solutions.
All participants commence and conclude the programme together at meetings held at UU Innovation's facilities in Uppsala Science Park.

Perspectives on the mentor programme

"The very best thing was being able to bounce questions off someone who has a lot of experience in a field relevant to the idea I am developing. It helped me enormously to gain a much broader insight into what is needed in development work. I was hoping to commercialise my idea and there are many steps in that process that I wanted to learn, so I applied to the programme to get help with that. Today, I have started a company and are well on my way."

Liza Löf, researcher at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology and founder of Readily Diagnostics

"I had developed a new technology, Secretion Effect Detection (SED), which I thought could be of interest to the biopharmaceutical industry and other sectors. As a researcher, I lacked the experience I needed to move forward with SED in a good way. The mentor programme was an effective and pleasant way to get help with that. For me, the UU Innovation advisors, together with my mentor, were invaluable in terms of the support they provided in turning SED into an innovation that is useful to society."

Daniel Camsund, UU alumnus who sold the rights to his technology to an international biotech company

"I wanted to share the results of my research project and realised that it requires a different approach and a new skill set that you do not learn in academia. My mentor was a perfect fit for my project. He knows what it takes to realise an idea and to develop a practical solution to an integration challenge."

Micheline van Riemsdijk, researcher at the Department of Social and Economic Geography

"It was so cool to hear what the other participants saw as opportunities with their research, and hear them talk about their ideas and ambitions to develop new solutions. It really opened my eyes to how research, with some adaptation, can become important innovations that contribute to a better society."

Katarina Blomkvist, researcher at the Department of Business Studies and founder of Daily Innovation 364

Linn Andersson Konke joined UU Innovation's mentor programme in the autumn of 2023, while she was a doctoral student at the Department of Psychology at Uppsala University.

The pressing need for proper support for children and young people with disabilities was the strongest motivation for applying to the mentor programme. Research on autism and ADHD is crucial, but research processes are often slow, and I wanted to take a more proactive approach to help those who struggle with difficulties daily or are awaiting evaluation. My idea is to develop a digital service that provides parents with early and detailed guidance while offering healthcare professionals the opportunity for continuous monitoring of children's well-being. My mentor has helped me get started, see the possibilities, while remaining realistic, and tackle challenging questions. I have also gained access to my mentor's network, providing the opportunity to schedule meetings with relevant individuals in my field.

Portrait picture of Linn Andersson Konke

Apply for the UU Innovation mentor programme!

Applications for UU Innovation's mentor programme are now open. Follow the link to apply for a spot in the programme, which commences in September. The application period is open until 15 May.

Apply here!

Contact us

Are you curious about the UU Innovation mentor programme and want to know more, have questions about the application or want to discuss an idea? Get in touch!

Email Frida Johnson at UU Innovation or get in touch with your advisory contact with us.