BIOTECH 7030 - Science Commercialisation & Innovation
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code BIOTECH 7030 Course Science Commercialisation & Innovation Coordinating Unit Molec & Biomedical Science Term Semester 2 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 4 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N Restrictions Available to Master of Biotechnology (Biomedical), Master of Biotechnology (Biomedical) (Advanced) and Biopharmaceutical Engineering students only Assessment Individual assessments - 2 x MCQ tests; write up of 2 case studies; 2000 Word Report on Biotechnology/Science based business proposal. Group Assessment - Feasibility Study Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Benjamin Keiller
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1. Describe the key components and processes involved in the commercialisation of research.
2. Understand how research relates to innovation, and how to identify opportunities to capture value from research.
3. Understand the nature of intellectual property, the importance and limitations of patents, the patenting process, patent infringement and IP management.
4. Develop skills in interpreting and validating patent documents and the impact on their own research.
5. Develop a strategy for career development by using appropriate pathways and identifying key determinants for success.
University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1,2,3 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1,2,3,4,5 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
2,4,5 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
1,2,3,4,5 Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
2, 3, 4, 5 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
1 x 2-hour face-to-face (F2F) workshop per week
1 x 2-hour face-to-face (F2F) tutorial per weekWorkload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).Learning Activities Summary
Learning activities (Weekly timing of topic delivery may be subject to change, and may be presented over multiple workshops and weeks) Topic 1 Introduction: Introducing the course; brief overview of ThincLab and eChallenge; assessments schedule; overview of global and Australian biotech industry. Topic 2 Intellectual Property (IP): What is IP; how is IP important to biotechnology; different forms of IP (Trade Secret, Patents, Copyright, Trademark, with a particular focus on patents). Topic 3 AusPat: How to use IP Australia's patent database to conduct a patent literature review. Topic 4 Business Structures: What makes a business; how are businesses structured (sole trader, partnership, joint venture, incorporation); limited liability, shareholders, directors, and executives. Topic 5 Commercialisation: The process for taking an idea from the lab-bench to market; how to conduct a clinical trial for a biomedical invention Topic 6 Valuation: How to determine a fair value for a product or service; risk vs value; cost-based, market-based, and income-based valuation techniques Topic 7 Finance: Why startup companies need funds; the typical funding progression; public funding sources vs private funding sources Topic 8 Accounting: Using accounts as a decision-maker in the biotechnology space, learning to read the three principal financial documents Topic 9 Case Study: Using the material learnt in the course to analyse an Australian biotech company.Topic 10 eSim: Developing the teamwork, communication, and business skills necessary to administer a biotechnology company as part of the executive team (see Assessment Details below). -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Assessment Type Due Weighting Learning Outcome Multiple Choice Test 1 Summative First half of semester 15% 3, 4 Multiple Choice Test 2 Summative Second half of semester 15% 1, 2 IP Assignment Summative Second half of semester 20% 4 eSim Summative End of semester 50% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Assessment Detail
Multiple Choice Tests (Combined 30% total grade)
Two 30-question multiple choice tests that are undertaken on paper during class-time.
These tests are individual assessments that are to be completed under test conditions within the allotted time during the allotted workshop session.
Test #1 (15% total grade)
Intellectual Property (Topics 2 and 3)
Test #2 (15% total grade)
Business Concepts (Topics 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
IP Assignment (20% total grade)A short-answer assignment that develops the student's ability to use the AusPat database to perform a patent literature search. This is an individual assessment to be submitted online.
eSim (Combined 50% total grade)
The eSim (entrepreneurial Simulation) is an extended group project that takes place over the final 4 weeks of the semester. Students are to work together in groups to role-play being the executive team. The eSim consists of multiple seperate assessments, some to be completed individually, others to be completed as group-work, and includes a mixture of written essays to be submitted online, and oral presentations to be delivered during the workshop sessions.
eSim #1: (5% total grade)eSim #3 (5% total grade)
Personal role description - Individual written assessment
eSim #2 (5% total grade)
Business Scenario 1 - Group oral presentation
Business Scenario 2 - Group oral presentation
eSim #4 (5% total grade)
Business Scenario 3 - Group oral presentation
eSim #5 (25% total grade)
Briefing Document - Group written assessment
eSim Peer Review (5% total grade)
Individual evaluation and feedback by your teammates on your level of contribution to the eSim.Submission
Late Submission
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- International Student Support
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
- YouX Student Care - Advocacy, confidential counselling, welfare support and advice
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.
The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
