Women’s ICURe Explore is open to research teams in the UK excluding those from incorporated and/or trading companies. This includes, but is not limited to, UK researchers in a public or academic lab, a research institute, an incubator, or a national facility.

This is a closed programme for women only, should you have any queries please contact icure@setsquared.co.uk.

ICURe teams are composed of four individuals:

Entrepreneurial lead/researchers and technicians who have completed research
Must be employed by the university and able to commit Full-Time for the duration of the programme starting Tuesday 5th January to Thursday 15th April 2027.

Principal scientific adviser
Must be able to attend required bootcamp sessions as well as the Options Roundabout and be willing to support the programme throughout its duration – please see schedule of dates above.

Technology transfer officer (TTO)
Must be able to attend required bootcamp sessions as well as the Options Roundabout. In addition, provide support for the EL and team during the ICURe programme and continued support for further commercialisation activity following the ICURe programme. Please see schedule above.

Business adviser
Motivated to offer expert guidance and support. Teams are strongly encouraged to name an adviser in their application. If you are unable to find an appropriate person, the ICURe team will help you identify one. Teams are responsible for any agreements or financial arrangements that may be needed with their Business Advisers.

We particularly welcome applications from individuals in:

• universities who have not previously participated in the ICURe programme
• universities who do not receive HEIF funding
• under-represented groups including women, people of colour, those living with disabilities, and those from the LGBTQI+ communities
• approved public sector research establishments (PSREs) conducting research within the specified domains

The programme includes:

• funding support up to £35,000. This comprises the EL salary for the duration of the programme, participation costs and a market research budget
• support covering approximately 3-4 months of EL salary to have fully committed time for customer discovery activities whilst participating in the programme
• access to SETsquared experts in bringing research to market, as well as proactive connections to our network of entrepreneurs, investors, and funders
• dependent upon the outcome of the options roundabout, some teams may have the opportunity to access further training and some specialist sector support and access investors as part of the ICURe Exploit/Investor Readiness Programme
• face-to-face and online bootcamps – this will be an intensive bootcamp where you will learn how to talk about your technology to customers, develop a hypothetical business model, and identify your customers’ pain points. You will also create a detailed action plan for your market discovery journey
• approximately 10 weeks of market validation against the customer discovery plan for your research using online software platforms, video conferencing and marketing tools, and face-to-face engagement. This will involve targeting direct engagements with over 100 business leaders. You will join weekly conference calls with our team of experts who will provide guidance in taking research ideas to the market
• face-to-face pitch training to teach you how to pitch your research to potential customers and investors
• an options roundabout panel provides the opportunity to make a pitch to an experienced panel of funders, stakeholders and mentors to help accelerate the impact of your research and give feedback on commercialisation pathways

Past participants say that having dedicated time to understand what commercialisation of research means has dramatically changed their perspective on their research, ideas, and innovations. The programme introduces ICURe and provides the space and opportunity to think differently about impact, commercialisation, and entrepreneurship.

Applications open: 06/10/2026
Applications close: 02/11/2026
Start date: 06/01/2027
Location: Hybrid
Delivery partner: SETsquared Partnership

The online application form will ask a series of questions about you and your research project.

There is a limited number of spaces on each cohort, but we try to provide support for as many applications as possible.

The application form may be accessed from the links on this website.