Science-based business studies at Leiden University

The Science Based Business (SBB) programme was established at Leiden University in 2001 in an effort to counter the unidirectional professionalism of students in science studies - not explicitly to meet the needs of business and industry. Nor is SBB a stand-alone Master's programme like the MS/MBA or the PSM in the USA: rather, it is designed to be an elective in all Leiden's research Master's programmes. It attracts both those students who want to stay on to study for a PhD and those who seek an occupation outside fundamental research. Especially pertinent to building capacity for innovation is the new course, 'Orientation on Technopreneurship', which is taught alongside the SBB programme. Because career opportunities for SBB and OOT graduates are diverse, the organizers have avoided an industry-specific focus in both cases.