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WORLD LEADING BUSINESS SUPPORT
Cohort 38 is now open for applications until 4 October 2021
For research teams from UK universities with commercially-promising ideas
Derive more IMPACT from your research activities
Validate the market for products or services that utilise your research
Apply for funding of up to £30k for market validation
Engage with at least 100 prospective customers, competitors, regulators and stakeholders
Receive expert feedback and guidance at the end of your ICURe journey
Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) is 3 – 4-month customer discovery programme designed using lean start-up methodology and Strategyzer tools and is funded by Innovate UK.
ICURe trains, funds, and supports teams led by university early-career researchers (ECRs) to determine whether there is a market for products or services that utilise their research, science, or technology. Up to £30,000 of funding is available to ‘get out of the lab’ and validate these commercially promising ideas in the marketplace.
View the full impact of the programme to date.
ICURe supports the research team’s Entrepreneurial Lead (ECR) to undertake 3 to 4 months of full-time, intensive market assessment to validate the commercial potential of the team’s innovation. The programme utilises lean start-up methodology and Strategyzer’s business model canvas tools to develop a customer discovery journey and test what potential customers think of the research. In addition, the ECR’s will receive training and interview practice, carrying out over 100 interviews and acquiring transferrable business and social skills.
Past participants say that having 3 – 4 months of support, dedicated time, and funding to spend on customer discovery has dramatically changed their perspective on their innovations.
Read our key dates and expectations to find out more.
The options for commercialisation pathways can include carrying out further public or private sponsored research, exploring licensing opportunities, seeking public or private funding for spin-out, for those projects that have demonstrated strong market potential by the end of the market validation.
Early Career Researcher/Entrepreneurial Lead with hands-on knowledge of the technology and research results
Senior Researcher (Principal Investigator) who is leading the research activity
Technology Transfer Officer with responsibility for commercialising the research activity
Business Adviser who is familiar with the research activity and has experience in the commercial marketplace
For the full team descriptions and requirements, as well as eligible expenditures and expectations, please read the Guidance for Applicants.
Before applying, we advise you to take a look at the application template to understand what information is required.
The ICURe Programme was definitely key to establishing Biosystems Technology. It fast-tracked the commercial translation of our academic research into a viable business proposition. I learnt a huge amount of commercial knowledge and expertise in a short period of time.
Dr Olivia Champion, Biosystems Technology
For more information, contact ICURE@soton.ac.uk or call Thea Glasspool on 07557 179144.
Don’t forget to look at the application template to understand what information is required with your application.
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