North East Scotland ICURe Discover is a part-time online market discovery programme designed to support researchers and technicians in exploring their potential market. Financial support of up to £2,500 is available for testing assumptions and market discovery.
Please note it is a pre-requisite to attend ICURe Discover if you wish to apply for ICURe Explore or Exploit.
About ICURe Discover
This programme aims to enhance market awareness and deepen the understanding of potential technology applications. It contributes to the wider goal of accelerating innovation in the North East of Scotland and stimulating long-term economic growth.
Our part-time online market discovery programme is developed using the lean startup methodology, which applies the scientific method (hypothesise, test, evaluate) to business ideas. Participants will learn how to use this approach to gauge their potential customers’ opinions about their idea, product, or service. This programme is suitable for participants looking to explore the potential of their early-stage projects or those who require a part-time commitment for market exploration.
What’s included?
- Up to £2,500 support for testing assumptions and market discovery activities.
- Part-time market discovery spanning 8 weeks.
- Training on how to gather market feedback that indicates the next steps for your research and potential for commercialisation.
- Access to our team of experts; we will proactively connect you to our network of entrepreneurs, investors and funders.
- Training in commercial viability using tools such as the Business Model Canvas (BMC).
- Hot-desking is available in ONE BioHub for programme activity, providing a flexible and professional environment to work, meet and connect.
- Develop an understanding of existing market offerings and competitive landscape for your sector.
- Give a reflective presentation to our panel of experts and gain further traction for your commercialisation plans.
Why attend?
Past participants say that having our training, support and dedicated time to spend on customer discovery has dramatically changed their perspective on their innovation.
A pathway towards future ICURe funding
ICURe Discover Programme participants will have the opportunity to apply for the ICURe Explore programme and secure up to £35,000 of grant funding to carry out more extensive market exploration and customer discovery.
Key dates
- Applications open: 01/11/2025
- Applications close: 04/12/2025 @ 23:59
- Bootcamp starts: 21/01/2026
Application guidance
For more information on eligibility, managing your IP and any other related questions, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions download, or contact our team who will endeavour to support you.
About our partners
Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise is Scotland’s national economic development agency. It helps ambitious businesses to innovate and scale internationally, to transform the economy by focusing on new market opportunities through targeted investment, innovation and internationalisation. Through the High Growth Spinout Programme (HGSP), it supports researchers to turn their ideas into commercial possibilities by awarding early-stage funding and support. As a partner of the North East Scotland ICURe Discover programme, Scottish Enterprise is enthusiastic to support this regional cohort, from which it is hoped new companies will emerge, building upon intellectual property and with the ambition to grow a company of scale through investment.
ONE Life Sciences
ONE Life Sciences provides a programme of ecosystem activity to accelerate the commercialization of life sciences research and foster the growth of life sciences companies. ONE Life Sciences provides the networks and connections, the entrepreneurial environment and the physical infrastructure (ONE BioHub) to drive life sciences collaboration, innovation and commercialisation in the region. ONE BioHub is led and co-funded by Opportunity North East (ONE) and is home to the life sciences ecosystem in north east Scotland. Life sciences businesses co-locate and grow with a thriving peer group of researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to translate world-leading science to the marketplace. ONE BioHub provides start-up, spin-out and scaling life sciences businesses with laboratories and offices and fully customisable grow-on space.
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen aims to inspire its staff and students to be enterprising and innovative, contributing to driving forward regional development and the economy of Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland. Through its championing of entrepreneurship and support for creating impact from excellence in research and teaching, the University enables its staff to create solutions to global problems, including through the creation of spin out companies. The University’s track record of success in spin outs includes companies that have participated in previous ICURe programmes.
Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University (RGU) is an innovative, inclusive, impactful and professionally focused institution focused on demand-led teaching and research.
The university is making significant investment to grow its globally impactful research in key areas including sustainable transport; built environment visualisation; industrial biotechnology; smart data and artificial intelligence; and pharmacy practice. Through prioritising strategic research partnerships, the university fosters excellence in knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration. RGU is known for its close engagement with industry and has a significant track record in workforce development both nationally and internationally. Partnering on North East Scotland ICURe Discover reflects our commitment to collaborating with organisations, governments, trade bodies, industry associations and educational institutions to stimulate innovation and drive economic development.”