Promoting a thesis

As future researchers in the public or private sector, PhD students should not stop at their research. They must also promote their research work in agreement with their superiors.
The preferred methods for doing so are scientific dissemination by publication of articles and participation in conferences. Most Doctoral Schools formally encourage their PhD students to get involved in such activities.
When research work leads to innovative results and can have an impact on economic activities, it is recommended to consider protecting it.
If development of innovative solutions meets entrepreneurship, the research work involved may be used to create an innovative startup.
In whatever form, promotion of research work is of key importance in developing a researcher’s career, as it is an important evaluation factor for recruiters as well as a sign of openness vis-à-vis future partners. It is something to bear in mind from the outset of work on the thesis.
The University of Lorraine organises training sessions to help its PhD students tackle the different facets of promotion of research work: scientific communication, publication of articles in English, promotion and intellectual property, entrepreneurship, DocLor.

Scientific dissemination : articles and conventions

Each discipline has recognised reviews in its field, specific publication rules, and recurrent or one-off events bringing specialists together.
Researchers often consider that their research can only be promoted through their publications. It is true that research organisations judge the quality of a researcher’s quality on the number of publications/year.

However, once published, a researcher’s discoveries fall into the public domain: it is no longer possible to promote them by means of a patent. However, if a request to file a patent is made, it is possible to publish in a scientific review once the filing has been recorded

Patents and intellectual property

Researchers ask their establishments (research organisations, universities) to file patents for them through their promotional departments, which decide whether or not to do so following study of an invention declaration. If patented new technology is used by a third party, 50% of royalties will be paid to the inventors after deduction of costs incurred by promoting organisations. The remaining 50% will be shared by the laboratory and related bodies.

To file a patent, it is necessary to consult the University’s Promotion Department or research organisation associated with the thesis, given that the choice of promoter will mainly be determined by its ability to host the work. These departments look into an invention’s patentability, carry out filing procedures, draft licensing contracts with third parties and collect fees from them. The same departments can also help researchers through other trademark filings and may offer advice on property aspects linked to copyright, of which the Soleau envelope can be a way of providing proof of work and the date on which it was created.

Interlocutor at the University of Lorraine: The Promotion and Innovation Division

Finally, updating national laboratory notebooks throughout the thesis is also a way to document discoveries, in the event of a dispute between two research laboratories.

Creating a business

The public authorities encourage creation of start-ups. There are several national schemes in France (Advice and funding: BPi France).
At the University of Lorraine or in consultation with the establishment, there are a number of interlocutors likely to lend their support to development of a project, including:
- the Pôle de l'Entrepreneuriat Étudiant de Lorraine (PEEL – Lorraine’s Student Entrepreneurship Centre)
- the Lorraine Incubator

Whether you are self-employed or want to be part of a major corporation, the University of Lorraine and its environment provide the resources to develop your project.