What is Innovate UK ICURe?

Innovate UK ICURe is a pre-accelerator programme for researchers. This programme is designed to help explore the commercial application and potential of UK research.

Within the ICURe programme, we have developed a range of funding and commercialisation training with industry experts, and this is delivered via our 4 key programmes; ICURe Engage, ICURe Discover, ICURe Explore and ICURe Exploit.

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    Why Attend?

    ICURe has engaged with over 500 teams nationwide. We have delivery partners, business advisors, and support networks in place which will provide an excellent basis for new businesses. As part of the ICURe journey, you will leverage this combined experience and capability to discover the potential of your ideas, and put them into practice in the real world.

    For Researchers

    If you are a researcher with an idea, this programme is designed to help you through the process of defining your proposition and testing it with your prospective target markets

    For Industry

    ICURe is an ideal access point to some of the UK’s leading innovation. Supporting a range of innovation themes, we provides SMEs and corporations with an opportunity to evaluate the commercial potential for cutting-edge research

    For Investors

    ICURe provides investors with an insight into the latest innovation, while it is still at an early stage of development. ICURe can keep you informed on developments in your portfolio area

    Cohorts Open For Applications

    ICURe Discover <br>November 2024

    ICURe Discover
    November 2024

    Applications Open: 10/09/2024
    Applications Close: 11/10/2024
    Start Date: 11/11/2024
    Location: Online
    Delivery Partner: NxNW Partnership & The Helix Way

    Innovate UK ICURe DISCOVER is an 8-week, part-time online market discovery programme designed to support researchers and technicians in exploring their potential market. The programme aims to enhance market awareness and deepen the understanding of potential technology applications.

    This cohort will be delivered via a 2-day virtual bootcamp followed by 8 weeks of early-stage market engagement and discovery (total 8 weeks part-time).

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    BBSRC ICURe Explore January 2025 – in partnership with the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs)

    BBSRC ICURe Explore January 2025 – in partnership with the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs)

    Applications Open: 20/09/2024
    Applications Close: 20/11/2024
    Start Date: 15/01/2025
    Location: Liverpool & Online
    Delivery Partner: NxNW Partnership & The Helix Way

    This programme is only open to Bioscience research teams.

    12 weeks full-time programme with up to £35,000 funding available to help bioscience research teams get out of the lab and explore the commercial potential of their research/technology.

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    BBSRC ICURe Engage <br>November 2024 <br> South / South East of England  & London Focused

    BBSRC ICURe Engage
    November 2024
    South / South East of England & London Focused

    Applications Open: 23/09/2024
    Applications Close: 21/10/2024
    Start Date: 04/11/2024
    Location: Online
    Delivery Partner: The Helix Way

    ICURe ENGAGE is a 4-week, part-time programme tailored for research students and technicians. This programme aims to identify potential beneficiaries of research, introduce participants to tools for commercialisation, and foster consideration of entrepreneurship as a pathway for achieving societal impact and a viable career choice.

    The ICURe Engage programme is open to all research students (including those pursuing research master’s degrees, 1st or 2nd year PhD students, and Post-Docs) as well as technicians from all disciplines who are interested in entrepreneurship. This opportunity is available regardless of whether they already have an idea, as the programme introduces them to ICURe and provides the space and opportunity to think about entrepreneurship differently.

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    ICURe Discover <br> for Women Entrepreneurs <br> November 2024

    ICURe Discover
    for Women Entrepreneurs
    November 2024

    Applications Open: 27/09/2024
    Applications Close: 24/10/2024
    Start Date: 20/11/2024
    Location: Online
    Delivery Partner: SETsquared Partnership

    Innovate UK ICURe Discover for Women Entrepreneurs is an 8-week, part-time online market discovery programme designed to support researchers and technicians in exploring their potential market. The programme aims to enhance market awareness and deepen the understanding of potential technology applications.

    This cohort will be delivered via 8 half day online workshops focusing on early-stage market engagement and discovery (total 8 weeks part-time).

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    ICURe Engage <br>November 2024

    ICURe Engage
    November 2024

    Applications Open: 30/09/2024
    Applications Close: 01/11/2024
    Start Date: 19/11/2024
    Location: Online
    Delivery Partner: Midlands Partnership

    ICURe ENGAGE is a 4-week, part-time programme tailored for research students and technicians. This programme aims to identify potential beneficiaries of research, introduce participants to tools for commercialisation, and foster consideration of entrepreneurship as a pathway for achieving societal impact and a viable career choice.

    The ICURe Engage programme is open to all research students (including those pursuing research master’s degrees, 1st or 2nd year PhD students, and Post-Docs) as well as technicians from all disciplines who are interested in entrepreneurship. This opportunity is available regardless of whether they already have an idea, as the programme introduces them to ICURe and provides the space and opportunity to think about entrepreneurship differently.

    More Info
    ICURe Explore <br> Jan 2025

    ICURe Explore
    Jan 2025

    Applications Open: 30/09/2024
    Applications Close: 11/11/2024
    Start Date: 07/01/2025
    Location: In Person & Online
    Delivery Partner: SETsquared Partnership

    12 weeks full-time programme with up to £35,000 funding available to help research teams get out of the lab and explore the commercial potential of their research/technology. 

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    Upcoming Cohorts

    ICURe Discover <br>February 2025

    ICURe Discover
    February 2025

    Applications Open: 02/12/2024
    Start Date: 25/02/2025
    Delivery Partner: NxNW Partnership & The Helix Way
    More Info>
    BBSRC ICURe Explore March 2025

    BBSRC ICURe Explore March 2025

    Applications Open: 03/12/2024
    Start Date: 19/03/2025
    Delivery Partner: NxNW Partnership & The Helix Way
    More Info>
    ICURe Engage <br>February 2025

    ICURe Engage
    February 2025

    Applications Open: 03/12/2024
    Start Date: 06/02/2025
    Delivery Partner: SETsquared Partnership
    More Info>
    BBSRC ICURe Engage <br>February 2025 <br> Northern Region Focused

    BBSRC ICURe Engage
    February 2025
    Northern Region Focused

    Applications Open: 09/01/2025
    Start Date: 27/02/2025
    Delivery Partner: The Helix Way
    More Info>

    Upcoming Events

    647

    Teams completed

    1200

    Applications

    282

    Spinout companies

    2588

    Participants

    471

    Million Investment

    51760

    Business contacts made

    1400

    Jobs created

    30

    % Entrepreneurial Leads are Female

    TOGETHER WE CAN

    Take your idea to the next level.