AHRC CreaTech ICURe Discover

AHRC CreaTech ICURe Discover is sponsored by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) / Innovate UK Business Connect. This pilot program aims to accelerate innovation, create economic and social impact, and strengthen the UK's global leadership in CreaTech, which refers to the intersection of creativity and technology.

AHRC CreaTech ICURe Discover: October 2026 - Innovate UK Business Connect Knowledge Transfer Partnerships AHRC CreaTech ICURe Discover: October 2026 AHRC CreaTech ICURe Discover: October 2026 AHRC CreaTech ICURe Discover is a part-time online market exploration programme for researchers and technicians, with up to £2,500 support for market discovery activities.

[taxonomy] => type_of_funding [term_taxonomy_id] => 401 [taxonomy] => type_of_funding [name] => Training and resources [slug] => training-and-resources [term_taxonomy_id] => 398 [taxonomy] => type_of_funding East Midlands , East of England , London and the South East , North East (England) , North West (England) , Northern Ireland , Scotland , South West (England) , Wales , West Midlands , Yorkshire and The Humber Financial support of up to £2,500 is available for testing assumptions and market discovery.

Creative Industries , Digital Innovate UK ICURe is partnering with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to deliver an ICURe Discover programme in October 2026, specifically to accelerate research and innovation in CreaTech.

AHRC CreaTech ICURe Discover is a 9-week, part-time online market discovery programme developed using the lean startup methodology, which applies the scientific method (hypothesise, test, evaluate) to business ideas. Participants will learn how to use this approach to gauge their potential customers’ opinions about their idea, product service or experience.

This programme is suitable for participants looking to explore the potential of their early-stage projects or those who require a part-time commitment for market exploration. Please note it is a pre-requisite to attend ICURe Discover if you wish to apply for ICURe Explore . const el = $refs['accordion1']; const top = el.

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scrollTo({ top, behavior: 'smooth' }); Please note that this programme is open to those who have previously been awarded AHRC funding, co-funding or participated in an AHRC programme, including but not exclusive to: BRAID, CoSTAR, CResCa, or one of the Creative Clusters. If you have been involved in another AHRC project not listed here, you will have the opportunity on the application form to state which one.

To join this programme, you must meet one or more of the following criteria: you are the original project lead of the AHRC-funded research the application builds upon you are a member of the original AHRC-funded research team, and it is more appropriate for you to lead the proposed activity you are working at an eligible research organisation and wish to exploit a piece of research in the absence of the original project lead This programme is intended for participants with a CreaTech project.

CreaTech refers to the intersection of creativity and technology, bringing together creative skills and emerging technologies to create new ways of engaging audiences, drive business growth and investment, and develop innovations across areas such as screen, games, music, immersive experiences, design, heritage and other technology enabled creative sectors.

The AHRC CreaTech ICURe Discover programme is open to early career researchers at all levels, from technicians and students from all disciplines undertaking research master’s degrees, to PhDs, Senior Lecturers, Professors and Post-Docs at UK universities and independent research organisations, who are interested in entrepreneurship.

Your course of study, your idea and/or your research MUST be directly related to AHRC activities and meet the eligibility criteria above.

We also 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 We are committed to supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and welcome applications from anyone who is eligible.

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scrollTo({ top, behavior: 'smooth' }); support to carry out market and customer discovery on a part-time basis over a 9-week period half-day workshops, following a pre-course briefing with our team of experts hearing from guest speakers related to CreaTech, who will share their learning and experiences from their ICURe journeys introduction to Strategyzer Business Model Canvas (BMC) trainer, mentor, and peer feedback with next steps guidance following your ICURe Discover journey up to £2,500 support for market discovery activities const el = $refs['accordion3']; const top = el.

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scrollTo({ top, behavior: 'smooth' }); ICURe Discover is now a compulsory route into the ICURe Explore Programme. Past participants say that having dedicated time to understand what the commercialisation of research means has dramatically changed their perspective on their research, ideas, and innovations.

The programme introduces ICURe and provides the space and opportunity to think differently about impact, commercialisation, and entrepreneurship. const el = $refs['accordion4']; const top = el. getBoundingClientRect().

top + window. pageYOffset - 80; // adjust offset window. scrollTo({ top, behavior: 'smooth' }); Applications open : 14/07/2026 Applications close : 09/09/2026 Delivery partner : SETsquared Partnership const el = $refs['accordion5']; const top = el.

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scrollTo({ top, behavior: 'smooth' }); The online application form found at the ICURe Programme website will ask a series of questions about you and your research project. There is a limited number of spaces on each Cohort, but we try to support as many applications as possible. The application form may be accessed from the links on this website.

You will need to have engaged with your research organisation’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and the Project Lead of the AHRC-funded research prior to applying. Please contact us if your university does not have a TTO or IP Manager and we will endeavour to help. const el = $refs['accordion6']; const top = el.

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scrollTo({ top, behavior: 'smooth' }); AHRC Programme Overview Webinar Watch this video featuring Rosy Jones, Head of ICURe at SETsquared Partnership, as she provides an introduction to the AHRC ICURe Pathway Programme, including its purpose, who it is designed for, what the programme involves and the application process.

AHRC’s pilot for CreaTech The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funds world-class, independent research in subjects from philosophy and creative industries to art conservation and product design. Its research funding addresses some of society’s biggest challenges, such as tackling modern slavery, exploring the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, and understanding what it is to be human.

AHRC is the UK’s largest provider of applicant-led and strategic funding, advanced-skills training and career development across the whole range of arts and humanities. AHRC also plays a leading role in supporting innovation at the intersection of creativity and technology (CreaTech).

Through programs such as the Creative Industries Clusters, CoSTAR, BRAID and CResCa, alongside Impact Acceleration Accounts and Proof of Concept projects, AHRC helps innovators develop new technologies, products, services and experiences across key areas. These include screen, games, music, immersive technologies, design, heritage and the wider creative industries.

This pilot aims to accelerate innovation, create economic and social impact, and strengthen the UK’s global leadership in CreaTech. [url] => /wp-content/uploads/2026/07/DSOCT26-AHRC-Key-Dates-Expectations-and-Guidance. pdf Application support & guidance For further information please read the Key dates, expectations and guidance document.

[url] => /wp-content/uploads/2026/07/DSOCT26-AHRC-Key-Dates-Expectations-and-Guidance. pdf ICURe Discover programme cohorts Contact the ICURe team for any enquiries. This opportunity is part of ICURe.

The Innovate UK ICURe Programme gives researchers the chance to turn ground-breaking research into investment-ready spin-out companies and license agreements. We provide funding and personalised support to test the commercial potential of an idea – while enabling researchers take their first steps into the world of business.

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