Ten Years of ICURe: Powering the UK’s spin-out landscape

That brings the total number of ICURe-supported spin-outs to 349 – a clear signal of the programme’s scale, reach and real-world relevance. ICURe continues to lead in the UK translating innovation into investment and commercial success across the UK.

To mark a decade of delivery, Innovate UK ICURe first presented its cumulative impact data at the 10-Year Anniversary Celebration in Manchester in February 2025. That landmark moment offered a comprehensive view of the programme’s progress including spin-out formation, funding and investment raised and job creation.

Since then, ICURe has published regular updates to reflect continued growth and momentum. These updates provide a real-time view of the programme’s evolving impact and spotlight the success of emerging spin-outs, helping them gain visibility, attract investor interest and build traction in the market.

Beyond spin-outs and investment, ICURe’s wider impact continues to grow. To date, the programme has supported over 1,350 Discover and Explore projects, engaged more than 5,400 team participants and facilitated over 108,000 business contacts. Current data shows that 27% of ICURe Entrepreneurial Leads are women, a figure the programme is actively working to improve as part of its commitment to inclusive innovation.

ICURe is also actively widening its footprint across the UK university landscape. In 2025, we launched a pilot initiative, ICURe Engage Outreach, in collaboration with the University Alliance. This co-created programme is designed to lower access barriers and make it easier for academics in Alliance institutions to participate in the programme.

A transformative ecosystem

ICURe has had a transformative impact on the UK innovation ecosystem. We are creating pathways for researchers on ICURe support, Innovate UK products and services and to investor engagement. The result is the ICURe programme is accelerating its impact on the UK economy.

– Geeta Nathan, Deputy Director of Start-up Ecosystems, Innovate UK

For investors: early visibility, real traction

For investors seeking differentiated deal flow at the intersection of science and commercial opportunity, ICURe provides early visibility into the UK’s most promising spin-out ventures. These teams have already undergone rigorous customer discovery, market validation and business and investor readiness training.

Geeta Nathan adds “The calibre of ICURe ventures reflects a powerful combination of scientific excellence, entrepreneurial drive and structured support. For investors, this means reduced risk, stronger signals and opportunities to engage early with credible innovation.”

ICURe-backed companies have recently secured significant investment, including:

• Ceryx Medical (spun-out in 2016): £11 million
• StimOxyGen (2020) and Dia Beta Labs (2022): £3 million combined
• Fotenix (2018): £2.1 million
• Spotlight Pathology (2020): £425,000

More investment-ready opportunities are emerging every quarter, with active spin-outs now operating across biotech, clean tech, AI, advanced materials and more.

How can investors have visibility of the exciting pipeline of ICURe teams?

• Investors can opt-in to receive curated communications from ICURe
• Receive timely updates on the spin-out pipeline
• Attend investment showcases and sector-specific events
• A new series of ‘office hours’ launches later this year, offering one-to-one access to ICURe teams preparing to raise investment

Beyond the metrics: What impact looks like

ICURe spin-outs are now tackling major challenges in health, climate, food and digital innovation. Jobs are being created. Technologies are reaching market. And research is being translated into commercial solutions at scale.

Whats next?

• Spotlights of new 2025 spin-outs will be shared throughout the summer to showcase their progress and plans
• Ongoing programme activity continues to support early-stage research teams through ICURe Explore, Discover Sprint and TMF AI Engage and Discover
• Deepening ties with Innovate UK’s wider support ecosystem will enable more scale-up pathways for spin-outs emerging from ICURe

Join us in shaping UK innovation

ICURe remains committed to building a diverse, dynamic spin-out ecosystem – turning discovery into delivery and research into scalable impact.

If you’re a researcher, investor or innovation partner interested in connecting with ICURe, contact the team at info@icureprogramme.com.