TMF AI ICURe Explore – September 2025

About TMF AI ICURe Explore

Funded through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund, TMF AI ICURe Explore provides financial support of up to £35,000, including a maximum of £20,000 for the Entrepreneurial Lead’s salary, as well as funding for assumption testing and customer discovery activities. This programme is aimed at helping research teams from across the UK to explore technology applications and test value propositions through extensive market engagement globally.

TMF AI ICURe Explore is designed to support the commercialisation of responsible and trustworthy AI innovations, with a focus on technologies that accelerate adoption in high-growth industries, healthcare and sectors contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The ICURe Explore programme is designed using lean start-up methodology and funded by Innovate UK. Lean start-up takes the scientific method (hypothesise, test, evaluate) and applies it to business ideas. Your team will learn how to use this approach to test what your potential customers think about your idea, product, or service.

Past participants say that having three months of commercialisation support, dedicated time, and funding to spend on customer discovery has dramatically changed their perspective on their innovation.

What’s included

• £35,000 support (Max) for the salary of the Entrepreneurial Lead to participate full-time over the 16 weeks, and expenses associated with testing key market assumptions and market exploration.
• Access to our team of experts and proactive
  connections to our network of entrepreneurs, investors and funders
• Membership of a national community of past participants and graduates
• Up to 5 days of intensive bootcamp training on how to develop a hypothetical business model and identify your customers’ pain points
• Test value propositions through extensive market engagement
• Undertake deep in-market research of supply chain, regulators, customers and competitors
• You will plan and execute 3 months of tailored market discovery for your idea, product or service using online software platforms, video conferencing and marketing tools

Please note that you must have completed ICURe Discover if you wish to apply for ICURe Explore.

Who is it for?

This programme is open only to researchers working in the field of Artificial Intelligence who have successfully completed the ICURe Discover programme.

We are particularly looking for innovations with potential to:

• Deliver societal or environmental benefit through responsible AI
• Drive decarbonisation in key sectors
• Support the UK’s health and wellbeing ambitions
• Accelerate responsible AI adoption in high-impact commercial settings

Why attend?

Our participants get access to leading university resources and fantastic networks of mentors and investors who join them early on their journey. We’re de-risking very exciting technologies which have enormous potential to change the world for the better.

A pathway to commercialisation

ICURe trains, funds and supports research teams to determine whether there is a market for products or services that utilise their ideas, research, science, and technologies. Up to £35,000 of funding is available to ‘get out of the lab’ and validate commercially promising ideas in the marketplace.

Key dates

• Applications open: 14/07/2025
• Applications close: 11/08/2025
• Assessment period: 12/08/2025 – 25/09/2025
• In-person bootcamp: 08 and 09/09/2025
• Online bootcamp: 10, 11 and 12/09/2025
• Delivery partner: Midlands Innovation

For full eligibility and application details please read the key dates, expectations and guidance document.