RCVS innovation initiative announces new innovation workshop for testing and validating ideas

The RCVS ViVet innovation initiative has announced a series of free-to-attend 90-minute innovation training sessions taking place this September.

These are the fourth instalment in the ‘Turning ideas into Innovation’ workshop series, which provides veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses with the tools they need to turn ideas into innovations. The upcoming workshops will focus on idea testing and validation, with teams learning how to use innovation processes to take an existing idea and turn it into a finished, marketable product.

Taking place throughout September 2021, the three interactive workshops will cover different stages of the innovation process, including how to find a target audience, how to successfully test an idea and then how to roll out an idea after the testing stage. As well as the workshop content, participants will also have access to a virtual collaboration platform, workshop tools and innovation templates to use after the sessions have finished. The topics covered in each session are:

• Workshop One – 7 September: This workshop will cover how to approach an idea as a team, how to outline a target audience and map out the stakeholders who could influence and support your idea
• Workshop Two – 14 September: During this workshop, participants will learn how to use tools to work out what assumptions need testing on an idea, how to create a prototype and how to design and run experiments on an idea
• Workshop Three – 28 September: In the final workshop, participants will review their tests, write a press release for the launch of their innovation and put an action plan together so the idea can be progressed after the workshops have ended.

Throughout the workshops, each group taking part in the programme will also have access to a 30-minute coaching session with an experienced innovation coach.

Dr Chris Tufnell FRCVS (pictured), RCVS Innovation Lead, said: “I’m really pleased that RCVS is continuing to champion innovation in the veterinary profession by offering these free workshops with innovation experts. I encourage all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses with an idea that they want to develop to apply to take part in the workshops. Testing the properties and functionality of new products, services, technologies, or processes is a vital component of nearly any innovation.

"Learning from the interaction of the tests and the target user or system can uncover mistakes or raise questions that have not been previously considered making innovation safer whilst maximising the positive real-world impact. The sessions will give everyone that takes part the practical skills and understanding of the innovation process needed to turn their idea into a finished product.”

There are spaces for five teams (group sizes can be between 3- 5 people) on the workshops, who will need to commit to attending all three sessions. If you are interested in participating in the workshops, you can sign up via the Eventbrite page, where you will also need to complete a short value proposition and answer a couple of questions about your idea to see if you are eligible to take part.

If you have any questions about the workshops, please get in touch with ViVet Manager Sophie Rogers by emailing [email protected]