Scientists
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Build entrepreneurial skills. Explore real technologies. Shape the future of materials innovation.

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APPLICATIONS TO COHORTS 2.0 & 3.0 ARE NOW OPEN

Home / Training & Skills / Entrepreneurship & Commercialisation / Royce Catalyst / Royce Catalyst – Scientists

Build entrepreneurial skills. Explore real technologies.

Royce Catalyst is a new 12-week extracurricular entrepreneurship education programme expanding the UK’s capacity for advanced materials commercialisation capability. At its heart, the programme connects early-stage materials projects with researcher teams who test their commercial potential.

By joining, you’ll receive intensive training, apply what you learn to a real-world project, and gain skills that will serve you whether you pursue a career in academia, industry, or as a founder.

Royce Catalyst is particularly well suited to scientists considering founder pathways, as well as those interested in careers at the interface of science, business and innovation. The programme is delivered in collaboration with Alliance Manchester Business School, drawing on its expertise in entrepreneurship, commercialisation and venture education.

We welcome applicants with backgrounds across all research areas, with scholarships available for UK university researchers specialising in materials science.

Programme Dates

Applications open: 18 February 2026.

The programme format is blended, with in-person dates in Manchester plus online (evening) team-based project work and supervisions.

Cohorts will run within the following dates

ROYCE CATALYST COHORT 2.0

Dates: 08 September – 11 December 2026 | Application deadline: 08 June 2026

In-person sessions in Manchester:

Launch Night: 08 September 2026.
Lecture intensive: 09-12 September 2026.
Pitch Night: 09 December 2026 (TBC).

ROYCE CATALYST COHORT 3.0

Dates: 25 January – 23 April 2027 | Application deadline: 9 November 2026.

In-person sessions in Manchester:

Launch Night: 26 January 2027 (TBC).
Lecture intensive: 27-30 January 2027 (TBC).
Pitch Night: 21 April 2027 (TBC).

Why Apply?

Royce Catalyst is designed as a launchpad: learn how to test ideas, build your professional identity, and gain an entrepreneurial toolkit to understand and shape the future of advanced materials.

The programme begins with a four-day lecture intensive in Manchester, where you’ll be immersed in entrepreneurial thinking for materials commercialisation. Sessions cover entrepreneurial mindsets, customer discovery, business models, IP, and pitching.

You’ll learn directly from founders, investors, and experts in strategy, innovation, and responsible entrepreneurship, then immediately apply these tools to your assigned project.

YOU WILL:

Learn commercial frameworks used by entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.
Apply them directly to an advanced materials project from an inventor, focusing on commercial feasibility.
Work in a small, diverse team of researchers and early-career professionals.
Receive guidance from an experienced supervisor.
Deliver three outputs: a commercial feasibility report, a value proposition video, and a final pitch.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO LEARN BY DOING, GAINING ENTREPRENEURIAL INSIGHT WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE UK’S MATERIALS INNOVATION COMMUNITY.

Time Commitment

Royce Catalyst involves around 100 hours of high-impact education, training and project work across 12 weeks. This includes 40 hours of in-person lectures and workshops, more than 10 hours of dedicated support from supervisors, plus your time to complete the team project work.

Fees and Scholarships

FEES:

UK university researchers (e.g. PhD students, postdocs, early-career academics, technical staff): £1,200
International university researchers: £1,800
Professionals (e.g. industry scientists, start-up employees, corporate R&D staff, or others outside academia): £3,500

SCHOLARSHIPS:

Full-fee scholarships: UK university-based researchers (irrespective of background) are eligible to apply for a full-fee scholarship. Applicants are asked to provide a short justification as part of the application process. Scholarship recipients are expected to cover travel and accommodation costs for the Manchester dates, typically via their home institution or alternative sources.

PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION:

If, following interview, you are offered a place, a £50 non-refundable commitment payment is required to confirm your place on the programme. A personal contribution is required from all learners, even those in receipt of a full-fee scholarship.

Please Note: Programme fees exclude travel and accommodation for the in-person Manchester dates.

Application Guidance

APPLY ONLINE NOW:

When completing the online application form, you can select which cohort you wish to apply to, including the option to be considered for either cohort. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

A downloadable Word template is available at the top of the online application page, which you may use to prepare your application offline. This allows you to view and consider all questions in advance before submitting.

ONLINE INTERVIEW:

You may be invited to a short online interview ahead of the official application deadline. The interview explores your research background, the value of the programme for you, and overall fit. Scholarship outcomes are confirmed promptly following interview.

OFFERS AND ENROLMENT:

Successful applicants will be offered a place on the programme, which is confirmed with a personal contribution payment. If you applied for a scholarship, you will also be notified of the outcome at this stage.

If you have any questions before getting started, please email the team at catalyst@royce.ac.uk.

Be part of the bigger picture

Royce Catalyst is more than a programme. It marks the start of a national effort to embed materials-centred entrepreneurship education, put technology translation into action, and ultimately support the UK’s advanced materials research base.

Whether you join as a student participant, inventor, or supervisor, your involvement will help shape the culture, capacity, and community that drives material discoveries into real-world impact.

Questions? Contact us at catalyst@royce.ac.uk