Innovation + Entrepreneurship
Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars possess a valuable combination of skills: you are talented, creative, analytical, solution-oriented and innovative. Yet many high-level scholars rarely rank themselves high in core business skills.
Having an entrepreneurial mindset goes far beyond launching a startup or selling a product. It’s about leveraging innovation and creativity to shape policy, develop new processes and build best practices — transferable skills that graduate and postdoctoral programs naturally foster.
Explore on- and off- campus opportunities that connect your high-value skills with the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem — an ecosystem that needs your expertise.
Graduate Research Commercialization Challenge: Final Showcase
Nov. 23, 2026 | 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. MDT | Edmonton Unlimited
Join Edmonton Unlimited and the University of Alberta Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) for the Graduate Research Commercialization Challenge: Final Showcase. Graduate students from across the University of Alberta will present the commercialization potential of their research to a panel of judges, exploring how their work could translate into practical applications, new technologies and ventures. Open to the public, the showcase offers an opportunity to learn about emerging research, connect with graduate researchers and engage with Edmonton's innovation community.
Food and networking will follow the presentations.
Explore Entrepreneurship Beyond the Lab and Classroom
The Explorer Program is an introductory, workshop-based series hosted by the Engineering Incubator. Designed for students, researchers and faculty across all disciplines, this program demonstrates how technology-driven ideas transition from concept to viable products.
Upcoming workshops:
- Location: Engineering Incubator
- Building: Engineering Teaching & Learning Complex (ETLC)
- Room: ETLC 02-040 (North Campus)
Stay tuned for winter term sessions.
Impact for Innovation Workshop Series
Master the essential tools of modern problem-solving with the Impact for Innovation workshops — 3 intensive, individual skill-building experiences designed to elevate your professional toolkit. Through interactive, expert-led training, you’ll develop hands-on expertise in practical innovation frameworks, rapid prototyping and strategic design thinking. Whether you're aiming to sharpen your creative leadership, pitch high-value solutions or accelerate your career, these focused workshops give you the confidence, actionable skills and competitive edge needed to drive real impact in any industry.
Session 1: Problem framing & ideation (1.5 hours PD credit)
Next session: Nov. 3 | 3 - 4:30 p.m. MDT | 1-31, Triffo Hall, North Campus
Gain practical skills in unpacking systemic issues, root-cause analysis, and reframing research problems beyond academic contexts into actionable, real-world solutions.
Session 2: Proving the value: Designing adoption-ready solutions (1.5 hours PD credit)
Next session: Nov. 17 | 3 - 4:30 p.m. MDT | 1-31, Triffo Hall, North Campus
Learn how to map multi-stakeholder needs, define non-monetary metrics, and articulate clear social value propositions tailored for community, government, and non-profit adoption.
Session 3: Social impact Lean Canvas: Designing sustainable pathways (1.5 hours PD credit)
Next session: Nov. 24 | 3 - 4:30 p.m. MDT | 1-31, Triffo Hall, North Campus
Master the skill of adapting Lean Canvas models to design sustainable, adoption-ready implementation pathways for non-commercial initiatives.
Entrepreneurship Opportunities
On-Campus
Many campus organizations offer training and mentoring for aspiring entrepreneurs at various stages of development.
- Entrepreneurship Centre: eHub
- Faculty of Engineering: Innovator + Explorer Program
- ThresholdImpact: Venture Mentoring Service
- Research + Innovation: Commercialize Your Research
- The 2SLGBTQI+ (Rainbow) Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub: REKH Conference
Off-Campus
Learn more about some of the local and national organizations that offer support for new entrepreneurs and innovators.
Other Resources
More resources to help take your ideas and research to the next level.