Simplified onboarding for idea development
Maria Vrettou, a researcher in Neuropsychopharmacology, and Natalia Calvo Barajas, a researcher in human-machine interaction, gained valuable insights into their innovative idea by participating in UU Innovation’s Idea Exploration Programme.
Maria Vrettou from the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health and Natalia Calvo Barajas from the Department of Information Technology have completed their participation in the Idea Exploration Programme, which is currently open for new applications.
Why do you think someone should join the Idea Exploration Programme?
Natalia: Participating in the programme offers valuable perspectives on how your idea can impact society. It also offers an opportunity to connect with researchers from different fields, fostering a diversity of ideas that allows for the exchange of knowledge and perspectives, which I found highly beneficial.
Maria: In the initial stages, you truly need a push and hands-on guidance. The programme facilitates a smoother start to your innovation process and helps with motivation to continue working on your idea. It's about establishing a plan and understanding how to progress with your idea
Tell us about your idea. What is the driving force behind it?
Natalia: Together, we aim to develop a digital application for women's healthcare. Our goal is to empower women and enhance communication with medical professionals through personalised AI-driven interactive tools tailored to individual health needs. Our collaboration stems from a shared interest in improving women's well-being, combining Maria's expertise in women's health with my background in artificial intelligence.
What was your initial motivation for applying to the programme?
Maria: Aligning our visions for the project and finding synergies in our expertise were key motivations. Additionally, it was an opportunity to gain insights on how to translate research into a solution that can be genuinely useful to people.
How did the Idea Exploration Programme contribute to shaping your idea?
Maria: While we had considered our idea quite a lot before the programme, it helped us delve into intricate details and see beyond our initial perspectives. It also made me realise that we actually had a concrete idea, which was inspiring.
Natalia: I believe the programme brought structure to both our work and the idea itself by providing guidelines on the next steps and organising our thoughts, offering clarity on how to proceed.
What has transpired since the end of the programme? Have you continued working on your idea?
Maria: We continue to work on our project with support from UU Innovation. Currently, we are in the process of applying for funding to conduct more thorough testing. Additionally, we have applied for their mentor programme.
Natalia: Going through the programme made us realise that we need to invest more time in our idea moving forward. As it is research-based, we also aim to continue applying for research funds to further develop our unique value proposition and create a lasting impact.
The Idea Exploration Programme
Start strong with UU Innovation's Idea Exploration Programme for valuable insights into your innovative idea. Open to researchers from all disciplines, the programme features four on-site breakfast seminars.
The support you receive during the programme is equivalent to what UU Innovation offers regularly, but in a more condensed format.
Learn more and apply
The next round of the Idea Exploration Programme begins in March 2024, and applications are open until 12 February. Limited spots are available.