The objective of a specialisation in the commercialisation of biotechnology is to produce students with an academic and technical background in biotechnology who are also well trained in evaluating the commercial potential for applying this knowledge. The study programme was designed to meet the expressed demand in industry for people with a strong background in biotechnology who also have expertise from other areas related to the commercial application of this knowledge, such as business administration, complementing R&D strategies, innovation, business plan development, legislation, regulation and IPR. Students  enroled in this spesialisation will develop the skills and expertise required for the development different types of enterprises in the biotechnology sector.  

The Master’s thesis in the Commercialisation of Biotechnology may be based on an assessment of a selected enterprise’s current status with respect to R&D and commercialisation. These may be fully established enterprises already marketing finished products, or newly started enterprises ready to design a complete strategy from development to commercialisation. The thesis will, among other things, involve the evaluation of business concepts, product ideas, IPR and marketing strategies, with the goal of establishing a new company, or expanding production in an existing one. A project of this kind usually goes through several phases from idea to profitable operation. The Master’s thesis in Commercialisation of Biotechnology may therefore consist of one or more of the following elements:  developing a business plan based on commercialisation of an existing product idea arising from biotechnological research, developing/examining protective IPR strategies for a certain given product, or developing novel product ideas idea based on biotechnological research. The thesis may be completed as part of an internship at the enterprise in question, or at a company with a profile related to the proposed business concept. The BioInn-cluster in Hamar harbours many biotechology companies and organisations where a Master’s thesis of this kind is most relevant. The faculty at HH boasts a broad network and internship in companies located elsewhere in Norway is also possible.