Empowering Next-Generation Dual-Use Technologies

Dual-Use Technologies

Researchers developing low-TRL dual-use technologies (from universities, research centres and TTOs).

Online Learning (6 weeks) – Participants join weekly expert-led workshops designed to guide them through the key stages of dual-use venture development, from opportunity framing and market analysis to value proposition design, business modelling, go-to-market strategy, and investor readiness. Throughout the programme, participants apply each module’s concepts to their own venture through practical assignments, progressively building a validated business case, Business Model Canvas, and investor-ready pitch.

Week 1 – Entrepreneurship & Opportunity Framing: Introduction to entrepreneurial mindset and venture creation principles. Participants explore how to identify and frame high-potential opportunities, define the problem space, and translate technology concepts into actionable venture ideas. The session establishes the foundations for venture development, including team roles, readiness assessment, and opportunity selection.

Week 2 – Market Analysis & Segmentation: Understanding market dynamics and identifying the most relevant target segments for dual-use innovations. Participants analyze market opportunities, competitors, civilian and defence applications, and key market drivers to define priority customer segments and refine their strategic positioning.

Week 3 – Buyer Personas & Value Proposition: Developing a clear understanding of customers, users, and decision-makers across different markets. Participants create buyer personas, identify customer pain points, map value creation opportunities, and develop a compelling value proposition aligned with specific market needs.

Week 4 – Mission Model Canvas & Business Model Design: Structuring a sustainable business model for dual-use ventures. Participants explore mission-driven approaches, define value creation and capture mechanisms, identify beneficiaries and customers, and develop the key elements of their Business Model Canvas, including funding and deployment logic.

Week 5 – Dual-Use Go-to-Market Strategy: Defining pathways to market adoption across civilian and defence ecosystems. Participants develop go-to-market strategies, analyze procurement processes, identify strategic partnerships, define commercial channels, and evaluate approaches for scaling their innovation.

Week 6 – Investor Readiness & Pitching: Preparing participants to communicate their venture opportunity to investors, partners, and ecosystem stakeholders. Participants refine their investor narrative, structure their pitch deck, anticipate objections, and develop the final materials required for pitch delivery and external engagement.

Mentoring – Alongside each workshop, participants receive two hours of structured mentoring per week, designed to transform workshop content into concrete, validated venture outputs. The mentoring pathway combines individual guidance and collective expert support:

• 1:1 mentoring (1 hour per participant per week): Personalized support on weekly assignments, venture development challenges, and pitch evolution. Mentors are matched by Plug and Play according to each participant’s profile, technology area, and development needs, providing targeted feedback on opportunity validation, value proposition, business model, go-to-market strategy, and investor readiness.
• Open office hours (1 hour with the weekly speaker): A shared Q&A and deep-dive session allowing participants to explore workshop topics in greater depth, address common challenges, and benefit from expert insights.

Mentoring Objectives – The mentoring track ensures that participants move beyond theoretical learning and continuously apply concepts to their own ventures. It aims to:

• Transform each workshop into an applied and assessed venture deliverable.
• Provide continuous individual feedback on venture development, assignments, and pitch materials.
• Progressively reduce venture risks across key dimensions, including market validation, value proposition, business model, go-to-market strategy, and financial assumptions.
• Establish an ongoing feedback loop between participants and mentors throughout the six-week programme.

Tracking & Accountability – Participant engagement is monitored throughout the programme to ensure consistent participation and effective mentoring uptake:

• Attendance target: Minimum 80% attendance across programme activities, including the 6 online workshops and 3 bootcamp days (9 sessions in total, with participants expected to attend approximately 7 sessions).
• Attendance monitoring: Session participation tracked through Google Forms and Sheets.
• Mentoring engagement tracking: Weekly monitoring of 1:1 mentoring uptake to measure participant engagement, follow-up, and progress throughout the programme.

Time commitment – The expected workload during the online programme is approximately 3–4 hours per week, including live sessions, independent work, and preparation of weekly deliverables.

In-Person Bootcamp (3 days, Turin)

• Develop entrepreneurial mindset and skills for research commercialisation.
• Apply Mission Model Canvas and Dual-Use Go-to-Market frameworks.
• Identify and valorise IP pathways (licensing, venture creation, co-development).
• Build investor-ready pitches and engage with corporates and investors.
• Validate technologies against real industry/defence challenges.