Meet the 2009/2010 participants

Name: Sandra Kliknaite

Background: I am originally from Lithuania and came to Baltic Business School in Kalmar as an exchange student. I continued as a PhD student at Lund and University of Kalmar. For the last six years I have been studying and consulting companies on how to collaborate with universities to create and commercialize innovations. My research focuses on how close forms of university-industry collaboration have given birth to new company creation – in Scandinavia, Silicon Valley and in China. What differentiates my research in the field is that I studied those collaborations from a company perspective.

Why did you apply for this course?
Why did I apply for this course: My intention is to learn from my own research to promote further spin-offs in the future. During this course I hope to acquire practical tools for starting my own company that I am currently missing. How can I teach my students to create companies if I have never done it myself?

What have you learned so far that surprised you?
Based on the ideas I heard from the colleagues attending this course, I am amazed/impressed with the great potential for commercialization that can be found in the academia. Furthermore, a pleasant surprise has been to discover a strong entrepreneurial spirit among young researchers.

How do you think this course will help you develop your idea?
Having clear deadlines and deliverables, reviewed on continues basis by professors, colleagues and entrepreneurs that have "done it", will help me to finalize my idea and bring it close to commercialization.

Would you recommend other to take this course, in that case why?
This course is great for future entrepreneurs; to gather inspiration and to get a reality check for their ideasin a "safe" environment. In addition, it will help to crystallize their ideas. Not mentioning the networking benefits it provides.