Preparation to Match with Third Parties

The Preparation to Match with Third Parties is a three-month capacity-building and coaching programme to help Research Teams to effectively present their KERs to relevant audience segments and to prepare them to get the most out of matchmaking events.

The programme focuses on Key Exploitable Results (KERs) by the Research Teams (RTs) to develop effective pitches and videos while improving communication skills.

At the end of the programme clients are invited to present their KERs in a dedicated matchmaking event organised by the WiderAdvance Facility, to put in practice what they have learned.

Who can participate

To access the programme Research Teams (RTs) and Research Managers and Administrators should meet the following criteria:

• the RT/ RMA have successfully completed the D&E Academy or obtained a recommendation to activate the service from the experts for the KER;
• the RT/ RMA expressed a clear need for engaging with key innovation players;

• the RT/ RMA is committed to actively participating in the programme.

The participation to the programme can also be evaluated if:

• a complete business plan has been developed for the proposed KER;
• the RT/RMA has already participated in previous pitching or matchmaking sessions (regardless of the outcome);
• a future pitching or matchmaking event is already scheduled.

How the service works

The programme is organised over three months combining three collective workshops with tailored individual coaching sessions.

• The first workshop is online and introduces the key tools and assumptions for matchmaking. Clients begin reviewing their Lean Canvas, understand what their audience is expecting and learn how to best design a tailored pitch deck and
• The second workshop is still online and provides an opportunity for a deeper refinement of the draft pitch decks. Clients will also understand how to further adapt the deck to different investors and learn expectations of the risk capital investors.
• The final workshop is in person, right before the matchmaking event organised by the widerAdvance Facility. During the last workshop, participants will practice their pitch and discuss final recommendations by the experts to be ready for the matchmaking event.

Between workshops, individual coaching sessions are organised to allow each RT to interact on a one-to-one base with the experts and work on the specific challenges of its KER. The coaching supports the practical application of the methods and tips introduced during the workshops and helps clients to finalise the pitch deck.

Online workshops last two to three hours, while the in-person workshop is delivered in three hours. The location of the in-person workshop is agreed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the location of the dedicated matchmaking event.

Organisation and participation

Each service can support a maximum of 10 Research Teams (10 KERs) and their Research Managers and Administrators.

Whenever possible, activities are organised by grouping KERs from the same organisation, country or geographical area. This helps facilitate participation and maximise the number of research results supported while reducing unnecessary travel.

The participation to the Preparation to Match with Third Parties, as all services provided by the Facility, is free of charge for clients. Travel and accommodation costs related to participation in in-person activities are not covered by the Facility.

Experts and support

The Preparation to Match with Third Parties is delivered by experts with experience in supporting business development, access to funding sources, pitching.

Experts are selected according to the specificities of the KERs to be addressed. The selection considers expert’s experience in the knowledge domain, sector or technological field, the maturity of the KERs, the intended exploitation pathway and in the challenges identified by the research team for the matchmaking.

This approach ensures the support received during the Academy is fit to the purpose rather than generic. Where appropriate, experts with complementary profiles may contribute to the programme so that teams can benefit from different perspectives during their experience within the Academy.

The role of the experts is not to prepare the pitch on behalf of the RT/ RMA, but to review the existing materials, introduce appropriate methodologies, provide experience-based feedback, challenge teams in delivering effective pitches and assess their readiness for matchmaking.

What clients will learn and achieve

Throughout the Preparation to Match with Third Parties, clients will learn how to:

• understand the different audiences’ expectations;
• identify the best way to approach the pith deck preparation;
• design the pitch deck and the linked speech;
• highlight the critical aspects to consider for the storytelling and speech delivery;
• understand the differences in the investors’ landscape;
• understand the main expectations of the risk capital investors;

• engage investors from the pitch to the investment.

By applying these methods to their own KER throughout the programme, participating teams develop a more evidence-based and structured approach to exploitation. Depending on the maturity and characteristics of the KER, the process can lead to:

• solid pitching decks;
• improved presentation skills;

• facilitated access to the matchmaking events organised by the WiderAdvance Facility.

Beyond the individual research result, the Preparation to Match with Third Parties strengthens the practical presentation skills of both Research Teams and Research Management Administrators. The methodologies, tools and experience acquired during the programme are transferable to other research projects and initiatives, to reinforce presentations skills within participating organisations.