Title: Role of soft-skills in research, innovation and commercialisation

Authors: Semiha Sena Alşal; Cansın Deniz; Defne Simay Urfalıoğlu; Mustafa Özilgen

Addresses: Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey ' Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey ' Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey ' Department of Food Engineering, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract: Hard-skills are job-related competencies and abilities that are necessary to complete a work, while soft-skills are personal qualities and traits that affect how people work. Hard-skills are often applicable to a certain career; soft-skills are transferable to any type of job. Thermodynamics is a major engineering subject and a hard-skill for mechanical and chemical engineers. It may also be a very important toolbox the bioengineers. Communication skills are recognised among the most important 'soft-skills' that engineers should develop. Technology investors without technical knowledge may find it difficult to communicate effectively with the engineers who do not have this soft-skill, and may not be convinced to commercialise a process. In the present study, three examples are presented to the efforts to improve the communication soft-skill while teaching biothermodynamics and trying to create consciences for recognising 'where and how they may use this toolbox'.

Keywords: soft-skills; bioengineering students; convincing investors; writing an assay; preparing a take-home project.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRIC.2023.132949

International Journal of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation, 2023 Vol.5 No.1, pp.56 - 69

Received: 18 Feb 2023
Accepted: 11 Apr 2023
Published online: 20 Aug 2023 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article