Registration for the elective course “Deep Tech Entrepreneurship” runs until September 20

In the autumn semester of 2026, students can take part in the updated and popular elective course “Deep Tech Entrepreneurship” (2 ECTS), led by Tõnu Esko, Vice Rector for Development at the University of Tartu.

The course is open to all master’s students and doctoral researchers from higher education institutions in Estonia and does not require prior entrepreneurial experience, a ready-made business idea, or completed research results. An interest in whether and how academic research or a research project could have practical value beyond the academic environment is sufficient. The course is particularly well suited to master’s students who are thinking of doctoral studies and wish to assess the practical applicability and societal or economic value of their potential research direction in advance.

Updated elective course focuses on the early stage of research-based entrepreneurship. Rather than preparing a finished business plan, the emphasis is on identifying whose problem the research could solve and on testing initial assumptions before an idea becomes a concrete plan. Topics covered include formulating hypotheses, understanding customers and users, conducting problem interviews, evaluating assumptions, outlining initial assumptions of a business model, and the principles of financing and commercialising research-based ventures. Feedback from last year’s participants highlighted guest speakers and practical assignments as the most valuable components.

The course runs for six weeks and is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars. Alongside theory, real-life case studies play an important role: experts from various fields will be invited to share their practical experiences. A detailed schedule, including the list of speakers, will be published during the registration period. The course concludes with poster presentations in which participants present their results to investors, practitioners and field experts.

• The course is held exclusively in contact learning at the Delta academic building in Tartu (Narva mnt 18–2046) every Monday from 21 September to 26 October 2026. Registration is available via the Study Information System (course code: LTGI.00.005).