Reminder of the key principles of the M2M courses

I have chatted with staff running M2M modules at both Universities and the UTC and there is a recurring question. How do the "teams" move on to develop their Business Plan in the "real world"? This is not the intention at all, although if it can be arranged, this could be a desirable end-point, maybe for the best idea(s)? The concept of M2M was primarily in order to develop a greater awareness of enterprise and in the case of the courses in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Sheffield (and to a large extent at the Life Sciences UTC, Liverpool), in the area of Biotechnology. It isn't intended that the students validate a piece of Chemistry or Molecular Biology, since at both Institutions, this is covered in laboratory sessions. No, the aim is to dig deeper into aspects of business such as fund raising, employment, location and logistics, sales and marketing, competitor analysis etc. 

For example, we have a nice idea around home screening for infections. This involves the harnessing of monoclonal antibody technology and microfluidics. It isn't intended for a proof of concept pilot project in the lab, but rather an investigation of existing technologies and the cost of producing a more competitive (price or simplicity) product. This can be combined with exploring the cost of business set up, fund raising, structuring the business over 1, 3, 5 years etc. This will then lead to a more robust iteration of a business plan. I hope this helps clarify things! I have often thought though, that assessment of competing ideas could be rewarded by provision of resources to "give it a go"!