Quick answer
ICURe is an Innovate UK-supported programme that funds early-career researchers to spend around three months testing the commercial potential of university research through structured customer discovery. Successful teams pitch options including spinout, licence or further research, and can access follow-on grants. Applications are made via the ICURe delivery partners during open calls.
Advisor summary
ICURe (Innovation-to-Commercialisation of University Research) is an Innovate UK and Tenzing-delivered programme that funds early-career researchers to validate the commercial potential of university-developed research through structured market discovery. Cohorts undertake intensive customer interviews and pitch a 'go/no-go' commercialisation decision at the end of the programme.
Who this is for
Early-career researchers (typically post-doctoral) at UK universities with research that could form the basis of a spin-out or licensing opportunity.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs ICURe?
Innovate UK with delivery partner Tenzing (formerly SETsquared).
Is it open to all UK universities?
Yes — UK universities and research institutions.
Who applies — the researcher or the university?
The researcher applies, with institutional support.
How long is the programme?
Approximately 12-15 weeks of intensive activity, plus pitch.
Is there funding for the researcher?
Yes — ICURe funds the researcher's time and travel during the programme.
What happens after ICURe?
Researchers may pursue spin-out, licensing, follow-on R&D funding, or return to the lab.
Is there a spin-out funding route?
ICURe Innovate provides follow-on funding for promising spin-outs.
Can groups apply together?
Applications are typically researcher-led with one PI.
Is industry partnership required?
Not at application — industry engagement develops through customer discovery.
Where is official guidance?
Innovate UK ICURe pages and the Tenzing programme website.
Read end-to-end by a FundingAtlas editor against the official source.
Funding amount
Varies
Region
United Kingdom
Stage
Idea
Provider
Innovate UK
Advisor summary
ICURe (Innovation-to-Commercialisation of University Research) is an Innovate UK and Tenzing-delivered programme that funds early-career researchers to validate the commercial potential of university-developed research through structured market discovery. Cohorts undertake intensive customer interviews and pitch a 'go/no-go' commercialisation decision at the end of the programme.
Key takeaways
- Market validation
- Cohort-based
- University-anchored
- Go / no-go
Who this is for
Early-career researchers (typically post-doctoral) at UK universities with research that could form the basis of a spin-out or licensing opportunity.
Real-world use cases
Engineering spin-out
Life sciences licence
Software platform
What to prepare before applying
- 1
Institutional support
- 2
Researcher commitment
- 3
Research base
- 4
IP awareness
Common mistakes
Insufficient interviews
Narrow market scope
Weak TTO engagement
Common rejection reasons
Research too early/late
Lack of institutional backing
Weak applicant fit
Alternative funding routes
Smart Grants
Innovation Loans
Collaborative R&D
Horizon Europe
Typical funding journey
- 1
Application
- 2
Cohort start
- 3
Market discovery
- 4
Go / no-go
Advisor view
This works when academic, business and Innovate UK objectives genuinely align — and stalls when they do not. Pick an academic partner you have built rapport with, and treat it as the start of a multi-year working relationship.
Usually too early when
Advisor signal
You have no identified academic partner, no defined strategic project, or no operational capacity to host and supervise an associate.
Eligibility
UK-based university researchers (typically postdocs or PhDs) whose host institution supports their participation; cohorts open on a rolling basis.
Common reasons applications fail
Weak academic-business fit, an operational rather than strategic project, lack of internal sponsorship, underestimating associate management commitment.
What improves your odds
A clearly scoped strategic project, an engaged academic supervisor, a senior business sponsor, and a credible plan for the associate.
Typical successful applicant
An established SME or larger business with a strategic capability gap, partnering with a UK university or research organisation with relevant expertise.
Common misconceptions
It is not a cheap way to hire a graduate. It is a strategic knowledge transfer programme — the associate, the academic and the business are co-investors of time.
What comes next
If awarded, recruit carefully, set up the local management committee, and treat the academic partnership as a multi-year asset.
Funding context
Often the bridge between research outputs and commercial capability. Pairs with Innovate UK grants for follow-on R&D.
Eligibility Quick Check
A cautious, rules-based check using only the criteria already published for this programme. Not a guarantee — always verify against the official source.
Frequently asked questions
- Who runs ICURe?
- Innovate UK with delivery partner Tenzing (formerly SETsquared).
- Is it open to all UK universities?
- Yes — UK universities and research institutions.
- Who applies — the researcher or the university?
- The researcher applies, with institutional support.
- How long is the programme?
- Approximately 12-15 weeks of intensive activity, plus pitch.
- Is there funding for the researcher?
- Yes — ICURe funds the researcher's time and travel during the programme.
- What happens after ICURe?
- Researchers may pursue spin-out, licensing, follow-on R&D funding, or return to the lab.
- Is there a spin-out funding route?
- ICURe Innovate provides follow-on funding for promising spin-outs.
- Can groups apply together?
- Applications are typically researcher-led with one PI.
- Is industry partnership required?
- Not at application — industry engagement develops through customer discovery.
- Where is official guidance?
- Innovate UK ICURe pages and the Tenzing programme website.
Related routes
Industries
Objectives
Regions