From Research to Impact: Unlock the Economic and Social Potential of Your Work
4-hour Workshop
From Research to Impact: Unlock the Economic and Social Potential of Your Work
K26, Kaiserstraße 26, Karlsruhe Kronenplatz, POLiS, March 27, 2025
As researchers, we aim to create impact—not only within our scientific community but also by tackling real-world challenges. But have you ever explored the full potential of your research? Could it shape policy decisions, drive innovation, lead to new products or services, or even form the foundation of a startup?
This interactive workshop provides a structured overview of pathways to transform research findings into tangible societal and economic impact. Through a mix of methodological impulses and hands-on exercises, you will discover practical approaches to maximize the reach and relevance of your work. Whether you're curious about knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship, or policy engagement, this workshop will help you identify new opportunities to bring your research to life.
Agenda
10:30am Welcome & Warm-up
10:45am Getting the Basics
11:00am Research Results & Personal Motivations – the Foundations of Impact Projects
11:45am Deriving Ideas for Impact Projects that fit Researchers
12:30pm Lunch Break
1:15pm Selecting & forming promising Ideas for Impact Projects
2:00pm Presenting Impact Project
2:45pm Wrap-up & Outlook
3:00pm End of the Workshop: Networking
Pre-Workshop Reflection Tasks
- Think about research results or papers you are particularly proud of – especially those that might hold value for audiences beyond your research community.
- Identify one to three topics outside your field of research that you are personally passionate about (e.g., "educating the next generation," "promoting equality," or "tackling climate change").
- Ask people who know you well – such as close friends or family members – what they see as your strengths beyond research. This could be skills like "explaining complex topics in a clear and engaging way."
Target Group, Location & Further Details
The course has a capacity of 20 people and is primarily designed for doctoral students and postdocs but is open to all researchers. The course will take place at K26 at the Kronenplatz in Karlsruhe - the new hub of the maKeIT Initiative and KIT-Gründerschmiede. It will be held in English language. Discussions and teamwork can also take place in German depending on the participants.
Trainer
Dr. Niels Feldmann leads KIT’s intrapreneurship initiative maKeIT, which supports researchers in identifying opportunities to impact society and the economy. He brings more than 13 years of experience in management consulting to the table and has been a lecturer and researcher in the field of information systems at KIT for over a decade.
Julia Schmidt is a member and coach in the maKeIT team for two years. In this context she organized and facilitated several “Research to Impact Workshops” in the Helmholtz Academy for Intrapreneurship (HAFIS)
Both are members of KIT’s Innovation and Relations Management (IRM) unit.