Maximising impact from research demands more than great ideas: it needs the right support, relationships and pathways to turn pioneering discoveries into innovations that can change the world.
Powering the commercialisation journey requires strong relationships on all sides. Our tailored, connected support helps ideas move smoothly from the first spark to funded venture.
Working closely with researchers and industry partners across all disciplines, we protect, manage and develop new innovations and commercial strategies, building momentum and securing the right route to commercialisation so impact reaches further, faster.
SHAPE Ideas Incubator
The SHAPE Ideas Incubator supports researchers committed to creating social impact through ideas rooted in the arts, humanities and social sciences (AHSS). It guides teams through the early stages of impact and commercialisation with practical insight, mentorship and tools, helping them test and shape new products and services underpinned by AHSS evidence. Successful projects – from community driven policy tools to innovative cultural engagement models – demonstrate how AHSS innovation can deliver powerful and scalable social and environmental benefit.
The Technology Investment Fund (TIF)
Launched in 2023, the Technology Investment Fund (TIF) is already driving innovation. With over £3 million committed to 35 projects by the end of 2024-25, this £10 million proof of concept fund bridges the gap between early-stage research and commercialisation, de-risking technologies so that they can move faster and with greater confidence into societal application. Its diverse portfolio spans software MVPs (minimum viable products), medical device prototyping, in vivo testing for novel therapeutics, new materials development and more. Over five years, TIF will support more than 100 University technologies, enabling academics to secure higher value licensing deals and launch spinouts that are ready to raise investment, strengthening both impact and economic return.
With our support, all four Cambridge submissions – including two TIF projects – to the first £9 million UKRI Proof of Concept Fund received the maximum £250,000 award, totalling £1 million. With only 48 awards made from over 3,000 applications nationally, Cambridge achieved the highest number of funded projects of any institution, and was the only one with a 100% success rate and at the maximum award level.
“The transformation of world-leading ideas to societal impact requires collaboration, alignment,
expertise and passion.”
Dr Declan Weldon continued:
“Through identifying, protecting, strengthening and managing opportunities, we maintain momentum so breakthroughs reach people and returns flow to research.”
Ceres Agri-Tech
On a broader scale, where a critical path to commercialisation doesn’t exist, we create it. Ceres Agri-Tech is a collaborative initiative to accelerate the translation of university research into practical solutions for global agricultural challenges, strengthening the UK’s leadership in sustainable agri-tech. Founded in 2018, Ceres has a growing pipeline of innovations addressing food security, climate resilience and reduced environmental impact. From showcasing its impact at AgriScience Week in Parliament to a partnership receiving £5 million funding to develop a globally recognised agri-tech innovation cluster and a new national agri-tech commercialisation office, Ceres continues to demonstrate the transformative power of publicly funded research in driving drive economic, societal and environmental benefit when backed by the right partnerships and expertise.
