About IBIC ICURe Discover
Innovate UK ICURe is partnering with the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst (IBIC) to deliver an ICURe Discover programme in September 2026, specifically to accelerate research and innovation in the north-west’s industrial biotechnology sector.
IBIC ICURe Discover is an 8-week, part-time hybrid 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.
Based on the lean start-up methodology, it applies the scientific method to business ideas. Participants will learn how to use this approach to gauge their potential customers’ opinions about their idea, product or service.
Please note it is a pre-requisite to attend ICURe Discover if you wish to apply for ICURe Explore. Full details are given below. If you have any further questions, please direct them to ciaran@thehelixway.com
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IBIC ICURe Discover bootcamp will take place on the 9th & 10th September 2026. The programme will end on the 12th November 2026 with teams delivering their reflective presentations at an in-person event in Manchester, where there will be an opportunity to secure further seed funding via a pitching competition. You will need to be available for the entire two-day bootcamp and presentation day, but can be flexible with the rest of your involvement (75 hours self-study and 5 hours meeting with mentors).
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The programme is open to early career researchers and technical staff (postgraduate students, postdocs, fellows, junior lecturers and technical professionals), from any north-west university, interested in increasing their market awareness and gaining a deeper understanding of their technology’s potential applications in industrial biotechnology.
Teams should contain between 2-4 people and must comprise of at least one early career researcher as Entrepreneurial Lead and ideally a tech transfer professional. It is strongly recommended that the team has the approval from their supervisor/principal investigator/scientific advisor/funder.
The Entrepreneurial Lead must be able to commit for the duration of the programme, starting the week of the bootcamp through to the options roundabout, including attending all online/in-person sessions, and have approval of their research organisation or funder to do so.
The applicants will be selected on the basis of their application, the potential of their idea to impact the north-west’s industrial biotech sector, and demonstration of their business potential.
As part of our commitment to improving diversity across our IBIC programme we are actively seeking applications from under-represented groups and also actively encourage applications led by non-Russell Group universities.
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- 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 Value Proposition Canvas
- 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
- Opportunity to pitch for further IBIC seed funding to develop your idea following the IBIC ICURe Discover programme
- 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
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- Learn how to evaluate the commercial potential of your research
- Build your understanding of routes to market, including licensing and spin-outs
- Gain expert advice from ICURe trainers and sector experts
- Connect with fellow researchers and innovation leaders in your field
This programme is part of Innovate UK ICURe’s wider mission to transform high-potential UK research into impactful spin-outs and license agreements.
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Applications open: 8th May 2026
Applications close: 17th July 2026, 23.59
Welcome call: 7th September 2026 (1.5 hrs)
Bootcamp day 1: 9th September 2026 (5.5hrs)
Bootcamp day 2: 10th September 2026 (5.5 hrs)
Pitch training: 2nd November 2026 (1.5 hrs)
Practice pitch: 6th November 2026
Options roundabout: 12th November 2026 -
The online application form will ask a series of questions about you and your research project.
You will need to have engaged with your University Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and your Principal Investigator prior to applying. Please contact us if your university does not have a TTO or IP Manager and we will endeavour to help.
About our partner
The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst – IBIC
IBIC is a collaborative initiative, led by The University of Manchester, and based in the north-west of England, dedicated to accelerating knowledge exchange, impact, and innovation in the field of Industrial Biotechnology (IB). IBIC harnesses the region’s scientific and research expertise to accelerate knowledge exchange, impact, and innovation, while fostering a more productive, research-intensive economy and promoting sustainability. IB utilises biological resources for everyday product development, including food, fuels, and medicines. It is poised for significant growth with a market potential exceeding £34 billion in the UK alone.
Together with the universities of Manchester, Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores, Manchester Metropolitan, and Salford, this consortium of academia, civic partners and industry create a cohesive ecosystem for IB innovation. Building on existing critical mass of IB expertise in the region, with major healthcare and biomanufacturing companies like AstraZeneca, Teva, Croda, and Unilever, as well as thriving SME innovation zones, including Daresbury, Liverpool Knowledge Quarter, and Alderley Park, IBIC leverages the region’s scientific and research assets to drive economic growth, foster sustainability, and establish the north-west as a global leader in IB research and innovation.
Fit to Government Industrial Strategy and Innovate UK Strategy
Engineering biology and industrial biotechnology are cornerstones of the UK’s industrial strategy and Innovate UK’s mission, driven by a national vision to invest £2 billion over the next decade to turn biological insights into sustainable, high-value products. These fields enable the shift to a net-zero economy by producing chemicals, materials, and fuels from renewable resources, directly supporting the UK’s goal of doubling its bioeconomy by 2030.
Engineering biology and industrial biotechnology are designated as critical “frontier industries” in the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy, leveraging biological tools to create sustainable materials, reduce carbon emissions, and drive economic growth. With a £2 billion investment commitment over the next decade, the sector supports UK ambitions in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and health innovation.