UT Austin Portugal Training Academy 2026 | 5-week online course with UT Austin
“Millie is a phenomenal communicator and educator. She structured the session perfectly, ensuring the theoretical concepts were immediately reinforced through practical application. I found her methods to be incredibly insightful and learned a lot”.
Cohort 1 Participant
“The program is very well organized and thoughtfully administered, reflecting a clear commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset rather than narrowly focusing on startup creation”.
Cohort 1 Participant
A 5-week, part-time virtual course designed for Portugal’s scientists, engineers, and researchers. Learn how to frame value from science and technology, understand real-world needs, and imagine new possibilities for your work. No prior business experience required, just curiosity and an open mind.
The course is led by Mellie Price, Executive Director for Texas Entrepreneurship at The University of Texas at Austin, and focuses on practical frameworks to help participants frame value from research, understand real-world needs, and explore pathways beyond the lab.
Applications are open until February 16, 2026 (or earlier if all seats are filled).
Course start date: February 25, 2026
Spots are limited – early application is strongly encouraged.
Course at a glance
- Format: Online (Zoom)
- Language: English
- Instructor (UT Austin): Mellie Price
- Time: 14:00–17:00 (Portugal time)
- Duration: 15 hours total (3 hours per week)
- Certificate: UT Austin certificate issued upon 100% attendance
Note: The UT Austin certificate will be awarded only if participants attend all sessions (100%).
Dates & topics (online classes):
- February 25, 2026 — Introduction to entrepreneurial thinking
- March 4, 2026 — Understanding Needs & Market Contexts
- March 11, 2026 — Framing Value from Science and Technology
- March 18, 2026 — Break (no class)
- March 25, 2026 — Pathways to Impact: Collaboration, Licensing, Ventures
- April 1, 2026 — Communicating Value and Next Steps
Office hours with the instructor are expected during the course (details to be confirmed).
Who should apply
This course is designed for participants affiliated with Portuguese institutions, including:
- Graduate and postgraduate students
- Researchers and scientists
- Engineers and R&D professionals
- Faculty and staff involved in research and innovation
If you have a research project, technology, or technical expertise and want to better understand how innovation creates value in the real world, this course is for you.
What you’ll learn
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Translate scientific or technical work into clear value propositions
- Identify needs, users, and real-world contexts that shape adoption
- Explore innovation opportunities beyond academic settings
- Strengthen communication around “why this matters” and “who it serves”
- Build foundational confidence to engage with entrepreneurship pathways
Instructor
Mellie Price (UT Austin)
Executive Director for Texas Entrepreneurship, UT Austin
Mellie Price leads entrepreneurship education and programming at The University of Texas at Austin. Her work focuses on helping technical and research-driven talent explore innovation pathways, understand markets and stakeholders, and build practical entrepreneurial foundations.
How to apply
Via Registration
Applications are submitted through the online form:
Application deadline: February 16, 2026 (or earlier if all seats are filled)
Applicants will be asked to provide:
- Name and professional contact details
- Highest degree, affiliation, role, and organization type
- A commitment statement confirming 100% attendance
- Optional consent to receive UT Austin Portugal newsletters and event notifications
Practical information
- Platform: Zoom (joining details sent to accepted participants)
- Language: English
- Certificate requirement: 100% attendance required
- Questions: Please contact the UT Austin Portugal team at research@utaustinportugal.org
