The course will focus on the professional skills required to convert intellectual property, rising from scientific discovery, into a new product or service. During lectures and workshops students will be introduced to project management, commercialisation strategies, business planning, financial statements and budgets, due diligence, and organisational management. Options will be explored for securing funding for research programs and new high technology-based businesses from sources such as government and philanthropic granting bodies, industry, private equity, and public markets. Assignments will involve students working as small teams on the preparation of a research grant application and a business plan for a start-up company that is attempting to commercialise its intellectual property. These grant applications and business plans will be based on real potential opportunities.