Written by Kate Beresford
Queens: Up to £30k for university researchers to validate business ideas
The ICURe Programme is now open for applications! The initiative supports teams of researchers at universities across the UK to validate their product or service by offering a fully funded 16 week online discovery opportunity. Participants will receive a salary and access to a host of experts to ensure that their project achieves the best chance of success. Deadline to apply is 20th August 2021. For more information and to apply, please click here or email the ICURe team for more details.
Bristol: QUEST pre-incubator open for applications
QUEST is a six-month pre-incubator programme that will kickstart new quantum and deep technology ventures. The QUEST programme of in-person and online training supports commercially driven researchers and provides them with the training and support to create pre-seed technology ventures. Over four years, QTEC has supported the creation of 28 active companies with a combined valuation of over £120 million, that have raised over £56 million in equity, grant and revenues and created over 170 new highly skilled jobs. Applications are now open at this link. Selected ventures start the six-month programme in October 2021. To learn more, please contact the QTEC team.
Manchester: Winners announced for the 2021 Harari Graphene Enterprise Award
Physics alumnus and founder of global flash-memory giant, SanDisk, Dr. Eli Harari has generously supported the annual competition to encourage Manchester University students, researchers and visionaries toward innovation and risk taking based on developing the commercial prospects of graphene and other 2D materials. This year’s first prize winning venture aims to utilise the unique properties of graphene and research expertise in advanced robotics at The University of Manchester to develop an architectural scale-model of a proposed design for permanent human settlements on the Moon and Mars. The second prize was awarded to a company developing 2D materials to reduce energy consumption during wastewater treatment. Find out more about the winners
Kings: Partnership with Santander to support low-income students with entrepreneurial skills
The Entrepreneurship Institute at King’s College London, with Santander Universities UK, is launching a new £300k project to support students from low-income backgrounds with entrepreneurial skills development. The Institute will work with the university’s in-house What Works team of research and evaluation specialists to use cutting edge data analysis and research methods to identify and combat issues that students face in accessing and succeeding at university. The first year of the project will be dedicated to research, which will then go on to inform a suite of initiatives, programmes and changes to existing programming that directly address the challenges identified. Read more here.
Arts: Mayor of London, Entrepreneur Awards
Twelve London College of Fashion students have been shortlisted as semi-finalists for the Mayor’s Entrepreneur 2021. The prize supports the creation of sustainable businesses, while championing ideas that will prime London for a greener future. It also serves to promote entrepreneurship as a viable career path for students and graduates and is delivered by the Greater London Authority with funding from the Citi Foundation. The 5 winners will each receive £20,000 towards their businesses, along with expert mentors within City Hall and the finalists will pitch their ideas to a celebrity panel in front of a live audience. Students received support from The LCF Graduate Futures Team, who support students’ career, freelancer and business start-up ambitions. Read more here.