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  • Collaboration Circle: Facing the Challenges to Science Entrepreneurship

Collaboration Circle: Facing the Challenges to Science Entrepreneurship

Topic: Science Entrepreneurship

Dates and duration: 30 June (14:00-16:00 CET), 7 July (14:00-16:00 CET), and 14 July 2026 (14:00-16:00 CET)

Format: ONLINE

Application Deadline: 03 June 2026

About the Activity

The Collaboration Circle for Science Entrepreneurship is structured into three sequential sessions, each designed to progressively deepen analysis from surface-level problem selection to root cause identification and constraint mapping, culminating in a powerfully re-framed problem statement ready for solution generation.

Session 1: Problem Selection & Surface Diagnosis focuses on airing the group’s challenges and selecting a single problem to analyze in depth. Members present their most pressing entrepreneurial bottlenecks in brief, followed by an anonymous vote to choose one issue for the entire three-session block. The facilitator then leads an initial “5 Whys” exercise to uncover surface-level root causes, stopping after two or three layers to avoid premature depth. The group captures all assumptions embedded in the problem without judgment, and the problem owner commits to bringing concrete artifacts—such as a failed grant review or a customer rejection email—to the next session. The goal is to establish a shared understanding of the problem’s contours without yet diving into solutions.

Session 2: Deep Root Cause Analysis pushes beyond surface symptoms to uncover the fundamental, actionable roots of the selected problem. The session begins with a review of the homework artifacts, identifying patterns and recurring assumptions. The facilitator then guides a complete “5 Whys” exercise, drilling down to the fifth or sixth level until the root cause is something the team can realistically act upon—such as never having spoken to a manufacturing engineer, rather than an abstract or external factor. The group sorts the causal chain into three distinct root types: technical, commercial, and organizational. Finally, each member votes on the single “kill root” that, if left unaddressed, would guarantee failure. The session ends with the problem owner drafting a preliminary constraint map for the next meeting.

Session 3: Constraint Mapping & Creative Reversal transforms the analyzed problem into a fully mapped landscape of constraints and opens up unconventional pathways forward. The group refines the problem owner’s draft constraint map using a 2×2 grid of Technical vs. Business and Inside vs. Outside Control, then rigorously separates factual constraints from mere fears or assumptions. Participants then generate at least ten “What If?” reversals—provocative statements that invert the original problem (e.g., “What if a customer paid for our pilot data?”). From these, the group selects three seemingly impossible reversals, and the problem owner commits to one small, low-cost experiment to test whether even a glimmer of that reversal might be achievable. The session concludes with the owner writing a powerfully re-framed problem statement that incorporates all six hours of diagnosis, setting the stage for Session 2’s resource and pathway mapping.

About the Challenges

The collaboration circle aims to generate realistic solutions to the main challenges faced by scientific entrepreneurship:

1. Overcoming obstacles to transforming a scientific result into a scalable, low-risk, commercial product ready for market;
2. Overcoming technical limitations to the scalability of the scientific product;
3. Compliance of the new product with regulatory and quality requirements;
4. Protection of intellectual property;
5. Securing financing for the creation of a new enterprise based on a scientific product;
6. Attracting talent and building a team in the newly created enterprise;
7. Understanding and developing the market, attracting and retaining solvent clients.

Expected Impact

  • Graduating Students
    • Accelerated “failure literacy” & risk reduction mindset
    • Ability to speak both “science” and “business” fluently
    • A ready-to-execute 90-day action plan & peer accountability network
  • PhD Students and Young Researchers
    • Early identification of “translational bottlenecks” in their own thesis work
    • A legitimate “permission structure” to explore entrepreneurship without jeopardizing their degree
    • A peer network of “translational allies” to counter academic isolation
  • Advanced Researchers
    • Systematic de-risking of lab spin-outs before tech transfer involvement
    • A structured pathway to fund research via non-dilutive & commercial sources
    • A replicable framework to train their own PhD students in responsible entrepreneurship
  • Companies (science-based startups & spinouts)
    • Faster progression from research to investable product
    • Reduced isolation and higher-quality peer input
    • Lower-cost de-risking before seeking financing
  • Entrepreneurship Support Organisations
    • Higher success rate of portfolio companies
    • Reusable diagnostic framework for cohort-based programmes
    • Clearer prioritisation of where to deploy limited resources

Activity Overview:

Session 1: Problem Selection & Surface Diagnosis (2 hours)

Goal: Air the problems, select one, and perform first-layer root cause analysis without depth.

No

Activity

Purpose

Duration

1

Check-in & Context Setting.

Re-establish circle norms; remind members of the “no solutions, only diagnosis” rule.

20 min

2

Challenge Voting (Expanded).

Each member presents their problem in 3 minutes (down from 5). Anonymous vote to select one problem for the entire 3-session block. More time for storytelling.

30 min

3

Initial “5 Whys” – Round 1.

Facilitator leads first 2-3 “Whys” on the selected problem. Stop at a surface-level root (e.g., “We lack pilot data”). Do not go deeper yet.

20 min

4

Group Reflection & Assumption Logging.

Members silently write down 5–10 assumptions embedded in the problem. Read aloud and cluster without judgment.

30 min

5

Homework for Session 2.

Problem owner gathers three documents (a failed grant review, a customer rejection email, a scale-up protocol). Others read one case study of a science startup that failed at diagnosis stage.

10 min

6

Plus/Delta.

Quick reflection on process, not content.

10 min

Outcome of Session 1: A single, well-understood problem surface, a log of assumptions, and concrete artifacts to analyze next time.

Session 2: Deep Root Cause Analysis (2 hours)

Goal: Perform the complete “5 Whys” and distinguish technical from commercial root causes.

No

Activity

Purpose

Duration

1

Homework Review.

Problem owner shares documents. Group identifies patterns: Which assumptions appear repeatedly?

20 min

2

Complete “5 Whys” – Round 2 (Deep Dive).

Facilitator pushes to Why #5 or #6. Write each answer on a sticky note. Stop at a root that is actionable (e.g., “We have never spoken to a manufacturing engineer” rather than “The universe is unfair”).

40 min

3

Distinguish Root Types

Group sorts the causal chain into three columns: Technical Root (e.g., scale-up impurity), Commercial Root (e.g., wrong customer segment), Organizational Root (e.g., co-founder skill gap).

30 min

4

“The One Root That Kills”

Each member votes on the single root that, if left unaddressed, guarantees failure. Problem owner records without debating.

15 min

5

Homework for Session 3.

Problem owner draws a draft constraint map (2×2: Technical vs. Business, Inside vs. Outside Control) based on the deepest root identified.

5 min

6

Plus/Delta.

Reflect on depth achieved.

20 min

Outcome of Session 2: A complete causal chain, a clear distinction between root types, and a single “kill root” prioritized.

Session 3: Constraint Mapping & Creative Reversal (2 hours)

Goal: Map the full constraint landscape and generate “impossible” reversals to unlock new problem frames.

No

Activity

Purpose

Duration

1

Homework Review

Problem owner presents draft constraint map. Group adds missing constraints (especially regulatory and quality system constraints, which scientists often forget).

20 min

2

Constraint Mapping – Complete.

Refine the 2×2 grid. For each cell, ask: “What evidence do we have that this constraint is real?” Separate fact from fear.

30 min

3

“What If?” Reversal (Extended).

               Generate at least 10 reversals (e.g., “What if we didn’t need pilot data?” → “What if a customer paid for pilot data?” → “What if a competitor generated pilot data for us?”). No filtering for feasibility yet.

30 min

4

Select 3 “Impossible” Reversals to Test

Group votes on the 3 reversals that, if true, would completely change the problem. Problem owner commits to one small experiment (in the next 2 weeks) that tests whether that reversal is even remotely possible.

20 min

5

Final Homework for further activities.

Problem owner writes a re-framed problem statement (max 3 sentences) that incorporates learning from all 6 hours. Example: *”We are not suffering from a lack of funding. We are suffering from a lack of a €50k experiment that would convince a manufacturing partner to co-invest.”*

10 min

6

Plus/Delta & Handoff.

Reflect on the value of slow, deep diagnosis. Preview further activities.

10 min

Outcome of Session 3: A fully mapped constraint landscape, a list of creative reversals, a small experiment to test the most provocative reversal, and a powerfully re-framed problem statement.

Application Requirements 

Your Profile

  • The ENGAGE.EU Collaboration Circle is targeted at graduating students, PhD students, young and advanced researchers affiliated with ENGAGE.EU universities plus representatives of companies and entrepreneurship support organisations. Participants of any citizenship and any field of study who are enrolled in and affiliated with an ENGAGE.EU partner university are welcome to apply.

Application 

To apply for the ENGAGE.EU Entrepreneurial Pathway you should provide:

  • Curriculum vitae
  • Short motivation letter (max. 300 words) explaining interest in the activity and relevant experience

All documents must be submitted in English.

Selection

Submitted applications are evaluated by the academic and management staff of the ENGAGE.EU Labs. Candidates will be evaluated based on their motivation letter and CV. To ensure equal participation, the selection committee will aim at choosing three participants from each partner university. Final decisions also consider a range of criteria for cohort composition, including but not limited to disciplinary balance, institutional diversity, and demographic diversity. 

Additional Details

Applications must be submitted by 03 June 2026, at midnight CET.

Results will be communicated by 12 June 2026

For further information, please contact: kkolarov@unwe.bg


Disclaimers

Disclaimer 1: The calendar of Collaboration Circle might be incompatible with some academic calendars of Erasmus, Exchange Partners, Double Degree or other mobility programs. Students interested in both programs are urged to check academic calendars accordingly. 

Disclaimer 2: This email is sent to manage and facilitate your participation in the educational and/or extracurricular activities organized by the University.