What you can expect

If you’re wondering how your research could reach beyond the lab, clinic or field, we help you take the first step with clarity and confidence.

For many academics, commercialisation or social impact can feel like unfamiliar territory. Our role is to demystify the early stages, support your ambitions, and work alongside you to fit around your existing research, clinical or leadership commitments.

Early choices, explored together

Early on, your Business Manager - one of our commercialisation experts - will help you explore different routes, including commercial pathways funding, and licensing options.

Social Ventures are another valued option, when purpose and impact are the primary drivers.

Our role is to help you understand these pathways and make informed choices.

Speak to a Business Manager, who will learn about your research and your goals for commercialisation.

The discussion will focus on what problem your research solves, where you are in the journey (e.g. is this still an idea vs a prototype).

We’ll then discuss the commercial potential of the research, invention, idea, or technology, to clarify the opportunity, as well as its strengths and weaknesses.

If there is any further information needed to help strengthen the proposal, or we think your research would benefit from additional market analysis or validated data, we’ll let you know and advise of the next steps.

Your Business Manager is on hand each step of the way if you need help with the more commercial aspects of the process.

This stage helps clarify the commercial need, customer and application. This doesn’t mean everything is complete, but that you and your Business Manager have a good idea of the application, where the research strengths lie, clear next steps - as well as any gaps you might have.

Once everything is in place, a route forwards can be decided, guided by your Business Manager - that could be creating a company, licensing your research, or a Social Venture.

Building confidence for what comes next

Where helpful, we can support you to build commercial skills and confidence through tailored initiatives such as the I-O programme and curated resources, as well as our guides and common questions section.

This is about building your commercial confidence, not changing who you are as a researcher.