For research teams from UK universities with commercially-promising ideas

Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) is 3+ month customer exploration 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 £35,000 of funding is available to ‘get out of the lab’ and validate these commercially promising ideas in the marketplace.

How does it work?

The ICURe Programme offers research teams with commercially-promising ideas to ‘get out of the lab’ and validate their ideas in the marketplace funded by Innovate UK.

ICURe supports the research team’s Entrepreneurial Lead (ECR) to undertake 3+ 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+ months of support, dedicated time, and funding to spend on customer discovery has dramatically changed their perspective on their innovations.

If you would like to speak to a contact, Professor Kylie Vincent at  kylie.vincent@chem.ox.ac.uk