Royce ICURe Discover 2026

Innovate UK ICURe is partnering with the Henry Royce Institute to deliver a new ICURe Discover programme for researchers developing advanced materials technologies. 

Successful applicants will receive up to £2,500 of support for market-discovery activities and take part in an online programme delivered by commercialisation specialists from The Helix Way. 

The eight-week, part-time online programme will help participants investigate potential markets and applications for their research, test assumptions about prospective customers and build a stronger understanding of the commercial opportunities surrounding their technology. 

The programme is based on lean start-up methodology, applying a process of hypothesising, testing and evaluating to early-stage business ideas. Participants will learn how to speak to potential customers and stakeholders, identify the problems their technology could address and use market feedback to inform their next steps. 

Completion of ICURe Discover is a prerequisite for researchers wishing to apply to the ICURe Explore programme, which can provide up to £35,000 for more extensive market exploration and customer discovery. 

• Programme: Royce ICURe Discover  

• Applications open: 20 July 2026  

• Applications close: 18 September 2026 at 11:59pm  

• Programme duration: Eight weeks  

• Delivery format: Part-time and online  

• Programme welcome call: 19 October 2026  

• Online training bootcamp: 21–22 October 2026  

• Options Roundabout: 17 December 2026  

• Support available: Up to £2,500 for eligible market-discovery activities  

• Delivery partner: The Helix Way  

The Royce ICURe Discover programme is open to UK researchers and technical research staff who are actively involved in developing an advanced materials technology. 

Applicants must receive their salary or stipend from an eligible UK university, public sector research establishment, research institute or other eligible research organisation. 

Eligible roles include, but are not limited to: 

• PhD researchers  

• Postdoctoral research associates  

• Technicians and research technical professionals  

• Fellows  

• Group leaders  

• Other academic or technical research staff  

Applicants must have discussed their proposed application with their institution’s Technology Transfer Office, or equivalent commercialisation team, and their Principal Investigator before applying. 

Royce recognises that a robust understanding of prospective markets and customer requirements is essential to successfully translate advanced materials research into real-world applications. 

This programme will support researchers undertaking market-discovery work relating to advanced materials technologies for net zero and clean energy applications. 

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: 

• Materials technologies supporting green hydrogen production, storage, transportation and end use, including monitoring and sensing.  

• Recycling, reuse and closed-loop materials approaches, including the recycling of magnets and magnetic materials.  

• Recovery of resources from waste generated through manufacturing, forming and machining processes.  

• Materials technologies that reduce toxicity in industrial processes and treatments.  

• Materials challenges associated with the water–energy nexus, energy storage and cooling.  

• New applications for platinum group metals.  

• Next-generation electronics, telecommunications and sensors.  

Applicants with relevant technologies outside these examples are encouraged to direct questions to ciaran@thehelixway.com. 

Successful applicants will receive: 

• Up to £2,500 of support to test assumptions and undertake market-discovery activities.  

• An eight-week, part-time online market-discovery programme.  

• A two-day online bootcamp led by commercialisation experts.  

• Support to develop and test a hypothetical business model.  

• Training in how to explain a technology to potential customers and stakeholders.  

• Guidance on identifying customer challenges and potential market needs.  

• Training in gathering and evaluating market feedback.  

• Commercial viability training using tools including the Business Model Canvas.  

• Support to understand existing market offerings and the competitive landscape.  

• Access to networks of entrepreneurs, investors and funders.  

• Individual coaching and pitch-development support.  

• An opportunity to present findings and proposed next steps to a panel of experts at the Options Roundabout.  

• The opportunity to progress towards ICURe Explore and apply for up to £35,000 for further market exploration and customer discovery.  

The researcher participating in the programme as the Entrepreneurial Lead will be expected to attend all compulsory sessions and should reserve the published dates before applying. 

Technology Transfer Office representatives are welcome to attend the programme sessions, although their attendance is not compulsory. 

Exact timings and dates for coaching, pitch training and practice-pitch sessions will be confirmed during the programme welcome call. 

The PL will be informed of the outcome of the review process 2 – 4 weeks after submission.

Proposals will be reviewed on:

• Quality and novelty and/or impact (research could be blue sky or translational). Strength of any partnership. This criteria has double weighting;
• Plans for ECR mentoring and skills development;
• Clear plans for the research and project management. Ability to deliver the research and complete within the time and resources requested;
• Ambition to develop the research into larger, longer funding proposals with clear industrial or other relevance or impact or ambition to translate the research through incorporation of a company or other means.

The online application form will ask applicants to provide information about themselves, their research project and the advanced materials technology they would like to investigate. 

Before applying, applicants must have engaged with: 

• Their institution’s Technology Transfer Office or equivalent commercialisation team.  

• Their Principal Investigator.  

Full application guidance and the application form will be made available when the competition opens. 

Questions about the programme or application process should be directed to ciaran@thehelixway.com.