Information for Website: Coaching on Synergies - Turning research results into the next step
The Synergies Coaching Service helps researchers, research teams and organisations identify the right next steps to develop, transfer or bring their research results closer to practical use.
The service provides tailored advice on how to overcome barriers, identify suitable funding opportunities, find potential partners or investors, and build a realistic pathway from research results towards further development, exploitation or market uptake.
What does the service include?
The service is tailored to the needs of each beneficiary. Depending on the maturity and objectives of the research result, coaching can cover areas such as:
- identifying the most appropriate follow-up funding opportunities;
- developing a funding and development pathway for the research result;
- identifying potential partners, customers, investors or other stakeholders;
- advice on intellectual property, technology transfer and exploitation;
- identifying barriers that may need to be addressed before further development or commercialisation;
- connecting beneficiaries with relevant European and national support initiatives and networks;
- advice on preparing for investment, partnerships or further project applications.
The coaching is provided through one-to-one sessions with experienced experts, with additional expertise brought in when a particular case requires it.
What is follow-up funding and synergies support?
Developing a promising research result often requires support beyond the project or research activity that produced it. This may include funding to develop a prototype, validate a technology, recruit expertise, conduct further research, prepare for commercialisation or bring a solution to the market.
The Synergies Coaching Service helps beneficiaries look beyond a single funding programme and explore how different funding sources, programmes and support mechanisms can work together.
The aim is to identify a realistic pathway for the next stage of development — for example, combining research funding with regional, national or European funding, private investment, partnerships or other support.
The coach helps the beneficiary understand which opportunities may be relevant, when to apply, what needs to be prepared and what steps should come first.
How long does the support take?
The standard coaching programme includes at least two individual coaching sessions, normally around two hours each.
The exact amount of support is flexible and depends on the needs and complexity of each case. Additional interaction may be provided where this is useful to help the beneficiary move towards a concrete outcome.
The service also includes online group sessions on how to make better use of funding and other support opportunities, which are open to a wider audience.
Who is involved and who does what?
The WiderAdvance Client brings the research result, its objectives and the challenges it is facing. The Client works with the Ambassador to define priorities and identify the most realistic next steps.
The Synergy Ambassadors provide tailored advice, helps assess the situation, explores funding and partnership opportunities, and supports the widerAdvance Client in developing a practical pathway forward. An Ambassador per Widening Country is nominated. (List of Ambassadors). The Ambassadors have complementary experience in areas such as technology transfer, intellectual property, funding, entrepreneurship, business development, investment, partnerships and innovation management. This allows the service to match each case with the most relevant expertise.
Where a case requires specialised knowledge that is not available within the network, additional experts may be involved.
How is the process organised?
The process normally follows four simple steps:
1. Understand the starting point
The Ambassador meets with the widerAdvance clients to discuss the research result (KER), its current level of development, objectives and the main challenges or barriers.
2. Identify the best opportunities
Together, they explore possible funding sources, partners, investors, customers and other relevant support mechanisms.
3. Develop a tailored pathway
The Ambassador helps the widerAdvance client define the most appropriate next steps, including what should be done first and which opportunities could support each stage.
4. Follow up
Progress is discussed after the coaching, with further support where appropriate, including guidance on funding applications and connections to relevant networks or support services.
What does the widerAdvance client receive at the end?
The main outcome is a clear and practical pathway for the next stage of development.
Depending on the individual case, this may include:
- a prioritised set of follow-up funding opportunities;
- a roadmap showing the recommended next steps;
- identification of potential partners, investors, customers or support organisations;
- recommendations for addressing specific barriers;
- guidance on preparing a funding or investment application;
- connections to relevant European or national support initiatives and networks.
The objective is not simply to provide information, but to help the widerAdvance Client move from a promising research result towards a realistic next step — whether that means further research, validation, partnership, funding, investment or market uptake.
