NERC-Innovate UK ICURe Engage programme
NERC’s ICURe Engage is a four-week, part-time programme designed for projects previously funded by NERC. The programme was delivered by the SETsquared Partnership and tailored for NERC researchers and technicians. It aimed to help participants identify potential beneficiaries and users of academic research, explore commercialisation tools, and develop an understanding of 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.
Application deadline: 11:59pm UK time, 7 September 2026.
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
For full details of this opportunity and to apply, please visit the UKRI website.