Berlin, Paris, Innsbruck, Cambridge, online - Usually, visitors to the Enterprise Fair, a three-day workshop for scientists with entrepreneurial ambitions, meet at one of the institutions participating in the p2i network. This year's edition of the Enterprise Fair, which took place digitally from November 3 to 5, was a virtual tour through Europe. As usual, the event offered a mixture of inspiring presentations, hands-on activities and networking opportunities with CEOs, innovation experts and industry leaders from all over Europe. This time, the University of Cambridge, the University of Innsbruck, Freie University of Berlin, the Université PSL Paris and the companies AstraZeneca and BP were responsible for the program as network partners.

"Participation has changed my view of my career options and given me the confidence that my expertise is not only in demand at the university," sums up physicist Eric Endres, who had one of the tickets to the Enterprise Fair intended for Innsbruck doctoral and post-doctoral students. He was also impressed by the international and interdisciplinary composition of the research groups and the practical inputs. "In the two and a half days I learned how to get from an idea to a clearly structured implementation plan. The experience I gained will help me in the future with possible business ideas and also with the organization of projects at the university," says the junior researcher.

More from the p2i network
Freie Universität Berlin is part of the p2i - Postdocs-to-Innovators network, which is currently supported by four European universities and multiple global companies. This network aims to give early-career researchers the opportunity to acquire entrepreneurial skills and mindsets through workshops, courses and regular meetings. It also provides a network outside the university. In the coming months, the p2i network will offer two more exciting formats for scientists with entrepreneurial ambitions.

Ideas to Innovation (i2i), January 12-15, 2021: This program at Cranfield University encourages young female scientists* to reflect on the social and economic relevance of their research and provides them with the necessary skills and abilities to bring their own ideas and results to market.
Information and application: https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/events/i2i

DRS Pro Transfer, 4 dates from January 11, 2021: The Entrepreneurship Program teaches the tools necessary to turn a great idea into a product or service. It is conducted by Digital Entrepreneurship Hub and Dahlem Research School.
Information and application: https://www.drs.fu-berlin.de/node/43784