Opportunity status:
Open
Funders:
Funding type:
Grant
Total fund:
£420,000
Award:
£35,000
Publication date:
8 January 2026
Opening date:
8 December 2025
Closing date:
6 February 2026 11:59pm UK time
Apply for funding to explore the potential market of your bioscience-based idea, increase market awareness and gain deeper understanding of your technology’s potential applications.
The programme provides funding of up to £35,000, which includes up to £20,000 for the Entrepreneurial Lead’s salary and up to £15,000 for assumption testing and customer discovery activities.
This is open to bioscience PhD students, researchers and technicians in:
* UK universities
* BBSRC-funded institutes
* UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) approved public sector research enterprises
You must have completed ICURe Discover in order to apply.
Who can apply
BBSRC ICURe Explore is open to bioscience researchers in:
* UK universities
* BBSRC-funded institutes
* BBSRC-approved public sector research enterprises (PSREs)
Bioscience researchers include:
* PhD students
* postdoctoral research associate (PDRA)
* researchers in fellowships and group leader positions
* research technical professional (RTP)
Building on the and the , we particularly encourage applications from RTPs as entrepreneurial lead.
You must have completed ICURe Discover if you wish to apply for ICURe Explore.
BBSRC ICURe Explore teams
The entrepreneurial lead’s active participation is compulsory for the programme. BBSRC ICURe Explore teams are composed of two to four individuals that will support the entrepreneurial lead.
Entrepreneurial lead
The entrepreneurial lead is any bioscience research staff member, who receives their salary or stipend from an eligible university, PSRE or institute. This includes, but is not limited to:
* PhD students
* technicians
* PDRA
* researchers in fellowship and group leader positions
They must be able to:
* commit for the duration of the programme starting the week of the bootcamp
* have approval of their research organisation or funder
Principal scientific advisor
The principal scientific advisor is a researcher who can provide intellectual support to the entrepreneurial lead throughout the course of the programme. For example, an interdisciplinary project may require input from outside the research group.
Technology transfer representative or professional
An individual from the team, either from or contracted to the research organisation, leading on the commercialisation of the intellectual asset with appropriate technology transfer expertise.
This individual must:
* be able to attend essential bootcamp sessions as well as the options roundabout
* provide support for the entrepreneurial lead and team during the programme
* provide continued support for further commercialisation activity following the programme’s conclusion
Business adviser
The business adviser is a motivated individual from a relevant industrial sector who can offer expert guidance and support. We strongly encourage teams to name a business adviser in their application.
Contact the ICURe administration team if identifying a suitable advisor is a barrier.
Teams are responsible for any agreements or financial arrangements that may be needed with their business advisers.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are committed to improving diversity across our programmes and are actively seeking applications from under-represented groups, including:
* women
* people of colour
* those living with disabilities
* those from the LGBTQI+ communities
We actively encourage applications led by non-Russell Group universities.
We will also consider the spread across different target market sectors when selecting applications to ensure broad portfolio coverage.
Previous applications
We cannot accept applications based upon a research project that has previously been through the ICURe Explore programme.
What we're looking for
Bioscience scope
The technology, product or service being carried forward for market exploration by the team must be one of the following:
* biological in nature
* interact with a biological entity
* involve a biological process
* address a biological challenge
We welcome applications from across the biosciences, including:
* agriculture and food
* healthy ageing
* engineering biology
* industrial biotechnology
* innovative tools and technologies underpinning biological research
What’s included
The programme includes:
* up to £35,000 of financial support, which includes up to £20,000 for the salary of the Entrepreneurial Lead to participate full time in the programme and up to £15,000 for market discovery activities and business advisor
* access to our team of experts and proactive connections to our network of entrepreneurs, investors and funders
* membership of a national community of past ICURe participants and graduates
* four days of intensive bootcamp training on how to develop a hypothetical business model and identify your customers’ pain points
* three months to test your value propositions through extensive market engagement, including planning and executing tailored market discovery for your bioscience idea, product or service using online software platforms, video conferencing and marketing tools
* undertake deep in-market research of supply chain, regulators, customers and competitors
* pitch to an experienced panel of bioscience investors, funders, mentors, and other experts to help accelerate the impact from your research
* opportunity to access further support through ICURe Exploit to spin-out or licence your technology
What we will not fund
We will not accept applications based on medical or clinical devices and therapeutics being developed solely for a specific end-point clinical utility (including diagnostics).
For example, if you are developing a technology specifically for diagnosing or treating a specific disease, you would not be eligible for BBSRC ICURe.
However, if you also aim to investigate other market opportunities for this technology outside of the health sector, for example for livestock, or if this technology can be pivoted and used as a platform technology, then you would be eligible for BBSRC ICURe.
If you are unsure your application would fit the scope of this funding opportunity, we strongly advise you to contact us.
Previous funding
We will give priority to teams where the research underpinning the bioscience innovation and the products or services being carried forward for market exploration is building on a previous BBSRC or other UKRI grant.
In your application, specify what UKRI grants have supported this underpinning research to date.
If you are a PhD student and your application is based on your PhD research, specify the funder of your PhD.
How to apply
on Innovate UK Business Connect.
You must apply by 6 February 2026 at 11:59pm UK time.
How we will assess your application
All applications will go through a competitive selection process and the entrepreneurial lead and associated science advisor will be required to participate in individual scheduled video interviews.
Your application must have been agreed with your organisation before applying, including that you can commit to the programme full-time.
Contact details
Ask about this funding opportunity
Helix Way team