The Henry Royce Institute (Royce) ICURe Discover Programme is open to all UK academics who are actively involved in the development of an advanced materials technology. This includes any research staff or technical research staff member who receives their salary or stipend from an eligible university, PSRE, research institute or organisation (including, but not limited to, PhD, technician, PDRA, fellowship, and group leader positions).

Royce recognises the importance of robust market understanding for the successful commercialisation of advanced materials research into real-world applications. This programme aims to support market discovery work and is targeted on materials technology researchers addressing net zero and clean energy applications. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to the following examples:

• Materials related ideas addressing green hydrogen production, storage, transport, end use, monitoring/sensing
• Re-cycling and re-use of materials including closed loop approaches such as magnets/magnetic materials recycling or resource recovery from waste produced during manufacturing including forming and machining processes, and technologies that reduce toxicity in processes and treatments
• Materials challenges addressing the water-energy nexus, energy storage and cooling
• New applications for platinum group metals (PGMs)
• Next-generation electronics, telecommunications and sensors

• Up to £2,500 support for testing assumptions and market discovery activities
• Part-time, online market discovery spanning 8 weeks
• Two-day online training bootcamp with commercialisation experts to develop a hypothetical business model, learn how to talk about technology to potential customers, and identify customer pain points
• Training on how to gather market feedback that indicates the next steps for your bioscience research and potential for commercialisation
• Access to our teams 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)
• 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 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

• 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
• Draw on the innovation ecosystems on and around your institute’s campus as you explore how to get your research into use

This programme is part of Innovate UK ICURe’s wider mission to transform high-potential UK research into impactful spin-outs and license agreements.

Applications open: 21/07/2026
Applications close: 18/09/2026
Bootcamp: 21 & 22/10/2026
Options Roundabout: 17/12/2026
Location: Online
Delivery partner: The Helix Way

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

You will need to have engaged with your Institute Technology Transfer Office (TTO) or equivalent, and your Principal Investigator prior to applying.

Royce brings together world-leading expertise and technical capabilities and works closely with industry to ensure translation and commercialisation of fundamental research.

With its Hub at The University of Manchester, the Institute is a Partnership of nine leading institutions – the universities of Cambridge, Liverpool, Leeds, Oxford, Sheffield, Imperial College London, the UK Atomic Energy Authority and National Nuclear Laboratory, and two associate universities, Cranfield and Strathclyde.

Royce coordinates over 700 academic, technical and research staff and over £200 million of facilities, providing a joined-up framework that can deliver beyond the current capabilities of individual Partners or research teams. As the Institute transitions from a set-up to operational phase, it has established a clear vision around Advanced Materials for a Sustainable Society.