Innovation for researchers

Get help with innovation and commercialisation of research

The University of Copenhagen supports researchers in developing and realising the innovation potential of their research.

Whether you are in the early idea-generating phase or have started the commercialisation process, you can find targeted help and guidance. 

Get an overview of how to translate your knowledge into innovation – regardless of process phase.


UCPH provides early-idea consultancy

Do you want to know the potential impact of your research? Are you curious about how it can be commercialised or developed into a future spin-out?

You can always contact UCPH Lighthouse – the University’s innovation centre.

We can help you:

  • Clarify the potential of your idea or invention
  • Understand the road from research to practice, impact or commercialisation
  • Assess whether your knowledge can be developed into a product, service, partnership or business.

Regardless of whether you have a concrete invention, an early-stage idea or initial thoughts, you can get sparring.

Send an email to lighthouse@ku.dk and we will get back to you.
Read more about UCPH Lighthouse


Get support for commercialising your research

If you want to explore the options for commercialising your research, UCPH Lighthouse offers a highly experienced team. We offer help in every step of the process.

We offer advice on:

  • The potential of ideas and inventions
  • How to deal with formal and legal frameworks, for example patenting and agreements
  • How to describe and translate your research into a commercial context
  • Common pitfalls and how to navigate through the process.


The aim is to give you the best possible conditions for creating real and lasting impact with your research and for taking the knowledge that you have created at UCPH into a new commercial track.

As part of this process, you can get access to:

  • Proof of Concept funds to further develop your research 
  • Development workshops
  • Sparring with experts and business partners.

Read more about commercialisation of inventions
Read more about Proof of Concept funding


Send an email to UCPH Lighthouse if you want a meeting with an innovation adviser.
lighthouse@ku.dk
See contact details and team members


Workshops and programmes on impact and commercialisation for researchers

As a researcher at UCPH, you can participate in workshops and programmes customised for further developing your research with regard to impact and commercialisation. The workshops and programmes will also enhance your innovation skills.

  • Master classes in which you can explore topics related to innovation and business development through expert presentations, knowledge sharing and workshops.
  • Lighthouse Launch, a three-month programme that offers you targeted support to test your idea.
  • Open Entrepreneurship which matches researchers with business leaders.

See all our workshops and programmes for researchers


Support for lecturers who teach innovation and entrepreneurship

In close dialogue with you and across subject areas, we offer advice and support when you want to integrate innovation, entrepreneurship or development of practice into your teaching.

We offer flexible support adapted to your teaching, objectives and students’ needs:

  • Book an instructor or a facilitator for a module
  • Get sparring on the design of teaching programmes
  • Get guidance on how to help students with their innovation projects
  • Join our teaching network.

See all offers on innovation for teaching staff


Toolbox for innovation and entrepreneurship

The toolbox contains methods, models and different processes for innovation and entrepreneurship. It includes a ready-for-use list of innovation methods for teaching. The methods are free to use by all lecturers, also outside of UCPH.
Go to the toolbox