Transversal activities - XLII cycle (a.y. 2026/2027)

“Innovation Camp” for Insubria PhD students - A deep dive into innovation and execution

1-2

36

Fasano, Pisoni, Vezzulli, Farao, Capelli, Bellucci

Objective: Entrepreneurship is one of the EU Council’s eight Key Competences for Lifelong Learning. The Innovation Camp for PhD Students introduces entrepreneurship and innovation concepts while developing core hard and soft skills, from lean-startup fundamentals to creating an innovative idea. Participants who attend the open day and at least 75% of activities will receive an open badge.

COURSE TOPICS

Research potential, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer (4 h)

Introduction to startup world (4 h)

Legal aspects (4 h)

The Lean Startup with hands-on (4 h)

Funding and supporting the idea (4 h)

Communication of the idea (4 h)

Team working & mentoring activities (4 h)

Pitch refinement session (4 h)

Final presentation of business ideas (4 h)

Not scheduled for 2026. The next edition will take place in February 2027.

English

Safety in the laboratory

1

14

Prevention and protection service

SPECIFIC TRAINING 1 (4 hours): evacuation and fire procedures, first-aid organizational procedures, emergencies, safety signage, display screen equipment, microclimate, lighting and noise, manual handling of loads, work-related stress, workplace environments, incidents, near misses, and documentation.

SPECIFIC TRAINING 2 (4 hours): chemical risk, technical gases and laboratory applications involving liquid nitrogen, biological risk and safety measures, PPE.

October 2026

English

Artificial intelligence

Any

8

Ref. Fasano

Foundations of AI. The AI act. Applications (Biology, Surgery, Medicine, Economics, Humanities, Astrophysics, Materials science)

June 2026

English

Becoming a researcher. Academic writing and publishing

Any

5

Ref. Vezzulli

The aim of the course is to analyse the process of publishing, from identifying a target journal, drafting the paper, the submission process, handling reviews and revisions. The course will also cover aspects related to the ethics of publishing (e.g., plagiarism, co-authoring, using generative AI), and provide a concrete example of a journal article from firm submission to handling the reviewers’ letters to acceptance.

11 May, 2026

English

Public speaking

Any

8

TLC

The course covers key elements of effective presentations: active listening, clear organization and structure, informative and persuasive speaking, use of visual aids and evidence, ethical considerations, and strategies for building confidence. Objectives: to strengthen students’ confidence in public speaking; improve skills in online, computer-mediated presentations; and enhance their ability to manage all components of a successful talk, including timing, practice, clarity of deliverables, and meeting deadlines.

TBD

English

Project management

Any

8

Ref. Fasano

How to write a grant proposal. Start, define, and organize a project; develop a project plan, including scoping, task sequencing, and identifying the critical path; assess, prioritize, and manage project risks; and execute projects using the earned value approach to monitor and control progress.

July 2026

English