Innovation Career Pathway

The University is committed to supporting academic researchers. The Innovation Career Pathway provides structure and support for researchers undertaking innovative and entrepreneurial activities.

The Research and Innovation Strategy will create an environment in which our research community can flourish and innovate, working alongside our partners in industry, the public sector, patients and local communities to produce extraordinary insights and discoveries that tackle the major problems facing our world.  

The R&I Strategy 2030 is committed to: “recognising and promoting an Innovation Career Path for academics who want to focus on commercialisation and engagement with industry. This will involve articulating a recognised pathway for career progression from postdoc through to senior innovation leader, with clear goals, criteria and support at each stage.” 

Innovation involves the utilisation, adoption, and commercialisation of new ideas, technologies, and research to benefit society and the economy.

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The Innovation Careers Hub

The new SharePoint Hub is a one-stop shop for researchers at all levels, from Early Career Researchers to Professors, who are interested in pursuing an innovative career path at the University of Edinburgh. It also offers information and resources for innovation-active academics and those who support them.

Plan your pathway

The Innovation Competency Framework helps you to identify the skills, knowledge, and behaviours required for a thriving innovation career at the University. Use it as a tool to plan your learning and development, and to guide and inform career conversations with your line manager and mentors.

The Framework is structured using five innovation capability levels: 

  1. Potential Innovators
  2. Aspiring Innovators
  3. New Innovators
  4. Experienced Innovators
  5. Innovation Leaders

The Framework comprises ten competencies that span the entire range of innovation capability levels: collaboration, creativity, funding, intellectual property, leadership, market analysis, networks, risk, strategy and University resources.

Navigate learning and development opportunities

The Hub lists over 20 varied learning and development opportunities, including programmes, training, events, tools, guides, and networks. To identify which opportunities are most suited to you, use the Innovation Competency Framework to determine your current innovation capability level and the specific competencies you wish to enhance. 

The following opportunities are provided by Edinburgh Innovations:

Feeling inspired?

Take the next step with Engage - Our online learning programme focuses on the ‘how to’ of external engagement and a practical first step in collaborating with external organisations.

Sign up to our Unlocking Innovation newsletter - Be inspired by our innovators, discover the support and resources available to you and celebrate the latest innovation success stories.

Explore the Innovation Careers Hub - The University's one-stop shop for all researchers interested in an innovative career.

Contact us - If you have an idea and want to drive innovation from your research, meet the team ready to support you on your innovation journey.

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