7B069E - From Lab to Market: Emerging Materials and Sustainable Innovations in Practice 01 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2033 | Version 0
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | 7B069E | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | From Lab to Market: Emerging Materials and Sustainable Innovations in Practice | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science | ||
| Faculty Group: | Applied Science | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Biology and Chemistry | ||
| Module Leader: | Christian Laycock | ||
| Module Team: | Tim Patterson, Savvas Savvas, Adam Henley | ||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2027 | Final Year of Intake: | |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 30 | Credit Level: | 7 |
| Language: | |||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | 101221 - enterprise and entrepreneurship | ||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 100 | ||
Document Version Information
| Version | 0 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2027 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2033 |
Module Aims
The main aims of the module are:
To develop students’ ability to critically evaluate how emerging materials and sustainable chemical innovations progress from laboratory research through technology readiness stages toward commercialisation, considering technical, economic, environmental and societal factors.
To equip students with professional and entrepreneurial capabilities—such as intellectual property awareness, regulatory understanding, market analysis, stakeholder communication and responsible innovation practice—to support real-world translation of scientific advances.
To foster interdisciplinary, challenge-based learning by engaging students in authentic case studies and collaborative problem-solving, enabling them to integrate scientific, engineering, business and sustainability perspectives when designing viable routes to market for new materials and technologies.
Content Summary
From Lab to Market explores how scientific discoveries and emerging materials transition from research environments into real-world applications, industries and markets. The module introduces students to innovation processes, technology readiness levels (TRLs), intellectual property, regulatory landscapes, commercial feasibility, funding pathways and responsible research and innovation (RRI). Students will analyse how scientific breakthroughs—particularly in sustainable chemistry and advanced materials—create value across sectors including energy, manufacturing, circular economy systems and environmental technologies.
Working with real case studies, industry insights and challenge-based learning tasks, students develop the ability to evaluate the technical, environmental, social and commercial viability of new materials and technologies. The module supports students in synthesising interdisciplinary perspectives, communicating with diverse stakeholders and translating laboratory findings into robust proposals for innovation, scaleup or product development.
As a core component of the MSc, this module equips students with the critical, professional and entrepreneurial capabilities required at Master’s level—preparing them to become research-literate innovators who can navigate the complex pathways that connect scientific discovery to societal impact.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 56 |
| Guided learning (independent) | 10.5 |
| Independent learning (self-directed) | 173.5 |
| Summative assessment and preparation | 60 |
| Total Hours Selected | 300 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Critically evaluate the technical, environmental, regulatory and commercial factors that influence how emerging materials and sustainable chemical innovations progress from laboratory research through technology readiness levels (TRLs) toward market adoption, using advanced analytical and decision-making frameworks. |
| LO2 | Synthesise scientific, engineering, business and sustainability perspectives to design viable innovation or commercialisation strategies for emerging materials, and communicate these effectively to diverse specialist and non-specialist stakeholders using appropriate scientific, digital and professional conventions. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Portfolio | The chosen assessment—an individual Commercialisation Strategy Portfolio reflects the module’s applied and interdisciplinary focus on how emerging materials and sustainable chemistry innovations progress from research environments into real-world contexts. It aligns strongly with the requirement for authentic, challenge-based learning set out within the Assessment Design Expectations, ensuring that students engage with realistic commercialisation processes such as TRL planning, market evaluation, regulatory analysis, risk management, financial modelling and multi-audience communication. | 0 | 4500 | 75 | No | 40 |
| Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment | Individual Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) | Innovation Oral presentation—reflects the module’s applied and interdisciplinary focus on how emerging materials and sustainable chemistry innovations progress from research environments into real-world contexts. It aligns strongly with the requirement for authentic, challenge-based learning set out within the Assessment Design Expectations, ensuring that students engage with realistic commercialisation processes such as TRL planning, market evaluation, regulatory analysis, risk management, financial modelling and multi-audience communication. | 11 | N/A | 25 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Portfolio | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Individual Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) | ✔ | ✔ | |