Course content
There are three 5 ects evening courses on Research Based Business (RBB):
1) RBB Opportunities (RBBO) has a focus on understanding how to recognize and assess entrepreneurial business opportunities for research- and technology-based business.
2) RBB Planning (RBBP) has an experiential, inside-out approach, focusing on business planning as a basis for starting a new, science-based company;
3) RBB Ventures (RBBV) has a more conceptual, outside-in approach, exploring entrepreneurship and the process of new venture creation by studying cases illustrating the entrepreneurial process form various angles.
These three courses, with a course load of 5 ECTS each, can be followed together as well as independently from each other. All courses have one or more team assignments. The courses are intended for Master students (as an elective or as part of the SBB Specialisation), Ph.D. students, post-docs and others motivated for creating and working in research-based business.
Course schedules
The courses will run from November 9th 2015, till June 20th, 2016.
RBB Opportunities
The course begins with self-study using supporting online Blackboard assignments and tests. The subsequent evening sessions will be held on Mondays, in the period running from November 9th, 2015 till January 25th, 2016. The final evening, participants will present their evaluation of opportunities embedded in research performed at Leiden University.
The kick-off date will be Monday November 9th, 2015 at 19.00 in the LUMC.
RBB Planning
The plenary course sessions will be on every other Monday evening from 19.00 – 22.00 hrs in the period from February 1st, 2016 till June 20th. The sessions will be in the LUMC. In the plenary sessions, the progress with developing the various business plans is discussed and a guest speaker will talk about operational aspects of starting a company.
Kick-off date: Monday February 1st, 2016 at 19.00 hrs in LUMC.
RBB Ventures
The plenary course sessions will be on every other Monday evening from 19.00-22.00 hrs in the period from February 1st, 2016 until June 20th, 2016. The preparation for case discussions takes about 3 to 4 hours per session. Grading will be based on class participation, two essays (group assignments) and a final examination.
The kick-off date will be Monday February 1st, 2016 at 19.00 hrs in LUMC.
More information on each course can be found on the individual pages of
RBB Opportunities
RBB Planning
RBB Ventures
Why Research Based Business
Research Based Business (RBB) aims to lower the hurdles for students and researchers for getting involved in the process of starting high-tech ventures. The intention is to arm students and (future) researchers with the basic knowledge of how to spot, assess and exploit an entrepreneurial, research-based business opportunity. This knowledge will be valuable for those who aspire to one day start their own company or who want to become involved in the process of company creation and development as tech transfer managers, business developers, business advisors, investment managers or surrogate entrepreneurs.
More reasons why you should attend RBB can be found on the Science & Research Based Business website.
You can also read the testimonals by former participants Wouter Bruins and Oleg Guziy