What is Engage?
NERC’s ICURe Engage is a four-week, part-time programme for those projects previously funded by NERC, to be delivered by the SETsquared Partnership, and tailored for researchers and technicians of NERC. This programme aims to identify potential beneficiaries and users of academic research, introduce participants to commercialisation tools, and foster entrepreneurship.
Innovate UK’s ICURe (Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research) Programme is a nationwide programme which supports students and researchers to explore the commercial applications and potential impacts of their research.
Why attend?
Past participants say that having dedicated time to understanding what commercialisation of research means has dramatically changed their perspective on their research, ideas, and innovations. The programme provides the space and opportunity to consider research impact, commercialisation, and entrepreneurship.
Who is eligible?
This programme is open to those who have previously received NERC funding directly as an individual or been affiliated with NERC-funded programmes, for example studentships, fellowships, research grants.
The NERC ICURe Engage programme is open to researchers at all levels of seniority, technicians and students from all disciplines undertaking master’s degrees, PhDs, and post-doc research. Applicants can be based at universities, independent research organisations or one of NERC’s six centres across the UK. Applicants should be interested in entrepreneurship. See a full list of NERC’s centres.
This opportunity is available regardless of whether you already have an innovative idea, as the programme introduces you to ICURe and provides the space and opportunity to think about entrepreneurship differently.
Your course of study and idea or research must be directly related to the commercialisation of NERC-funded research to solve climate adaptation challenges. It should do this by bringing new or improved technologies, processes, products and services to market to enhance UK’s climate resilience. This ensures physical and social systems are resilient and well adapted to a changing climate. This includes, but is not limited to:
- food security
- water supply
- transport
- urban design
- large infrastructure resilience
- community preparedness and response
- physical risks for the finance sector
We welcome applications from individuals in:
- universities who have not 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 enterprises
We are committed to supporting equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from anyone who is eligible.
What’s included?
You must be able to attend the entire programme.
Two-day online training bootcamp covering:
- entrepreneurial thinking
- the language of business
- emotional resilience and wellbeing
- introduction to verbal business card and value proposition
- impact and marketing testing online
Three weekly sessions covering:
- value proposition and your market
- testing your value proposition
- your video reflecting your learning
All programme materials have been aligned with the EntreComp model.
Engage provides a route towards other ICURe Programmes.
Be aware that the Discover and Explore programme will require their own application, there is no automatic entry if Engage is completed.
