About Frontiers AI ICURe Discover

Artificial intelligence and machine learning innovations are rapidly changing the way information is organised, consumed and new information generated. Entire industries are impacted and there is so much more potential for AI tools to facilitate new discoveries in science, accelerate R&D in areas such as materials science, pharmaceuticals discovery, health, semiconductors and national security and defense. We are looking for innovations with disruptive potential that will become the new UK AI Champions.

Funded through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund, Frontiers AI ICURe Discover aims to enhance market awareness and deepen the understanding of potential technology applications and its barriers to adoption.

Frontiers ICURe Discover is designed to help researchers translate their innovation to new world AI capability and innovations with capacity to generalise beyond a narrow application domain. The programme scope includes AI for scientific experimentation, materials science, health, pharma and biotech, national security and defence, semiconductors and novel AI architectures including algorithmic efficiency and RAI (these should be application agnostic).

It is a part-time online market discovery programme 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’ needs for their idea, product or service. This programme is suitable for participants looking to explore the adoption potential of their early-stage projects, where they already have an idea of who might adopt their technology and why.

Frontiers AI ICURe Discover requirements

Frontiers AI ICURe Discover bootcamp will take place on the 29 and 30 January 2026. The programme will end on 31 March 2026 with teams delivering their reflective presentations. You will need to be available for the entire two-day bootcamp, pitch training and presentation day but can be flexible with the rest of your involvement (75 hours self-study and 5 hours meeting with mentors).

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.

Who is eligible?

Frontiers AI ICURe Discover is open to all researchers and research students of UK universities and approved public sector research establishments (PSREs) who are funded by UK Research Councils to deliver AI based research. We accept innovations from any discipline or background within these areas.

Key dates

• Applications open: 20/11/2025
• Applications close: 10/12/2025
• Welcome call: 26/01/2026
• Bootcamp: 29 & 30/01/2026
• Delivery partners: NxNW/The Helix Way