SHAPE Ideas Incubator

Programmes & incubators

Do you have an idea for a social innovation with its roots in your research?

Want to learn more about how to make your idea a reality? Interested in meeting like-minded researchers and getting some tailored and practical support to propel your project beyond the research phase?

You might be developing new methods or interventions, partnerships or networks, tools, platforms or services which could create real-world impact whether on a local or global scale.

We invite Expressions of Interest in the SHAPE (Social sciences, Humanities and Arts for People, planet and the Economy) Ideas Incubator, a support programme for researchers and their collaborators who are committed to creating social impact and are interested in exploring socially responsible innovation models and/or social entrepreneurship.

This incubator is focused on establishing new products and services which can deliver measurable and scalable social or environmental impact, whether enabled by research evidence, practice, lived experience, technologies, or expertise.

SHAPE Ideas Incubator 2024

Watch the highlights from the 2024 programme

SHAPE Ideas Incubator 2023

Watch the highlights from the 2023 programme

Watch video

The programme

The programme takes a focused approach: a small cohort of researchers will attend five half-day sessions across February & March culminating in a day-long workshop event and finale.

Core Sessions

Week	Session
Week 1, 13:30 – 16:30	Value proposition
Week 2, 13:30 – 16:30	Understand your market, Pt. 1
Reading Week	1-1 catch up sessions and homework
Week 3, 13.30 – 16.30	Understand your market, Pt. 2
Week 4, 13.30 – 16.30	Storytelling development
Week 5, 5.30 – 7.30	Finale event

Key information

What does this incubator offer?

The programme will guide researchers through the early critical steps of research impact and commercialisation, and help them understand how social innovations are brought to market by offering hands-on insight, mentorship and practical tools.

Benefits include:

A practical exposure to the basics of social innovation, commercialisation and entrepreneurship.
Tailored support from a dedicated case team who will help you to develop your innovation pathway and identify stakeholders.
Introduction to tools and case studies to help formulate and test your ideas.
Meet like-minded people, collaborate and learn from others’ expertise.
Develop fruitful links to Cambridge’s wider research and innovation community to find support as you take your project or venture forward.
At the end of the programme, you will have:
Developed an advanced draft of your business model canvas (including an informed stakeholder and beneficiary analysis and a clear value proposition).
Created an action plan for your idea to move forward, informed by the insights gathered and the increased familiarity with the tools introduced in each session.
Learnt how to articulate the value of your idea to different publics through different techniques and tools
Developed a lasting, supportive network and community in the Cambridge research and innovation ecosystem.

What's included in the sessions?

Each session will be hosted by members of the commercialisation teams at Cambridge Enterprise and introduces expertise from Cambridge’s broader networks. Between sessions, participants can work with their personal case team to develop their ideas.

Every session includes expert content delivery focused on practical tools and methods in social innovation, an opportunity for structured and informal discussions with speakers, and time for you to work as a team on progressing and refining your ideas.

Exercises might include:

Developing your value proposition
Stakeholder mapping
Business Canvas modelling
Customer proposals, marketing materials and exploration of commercial channels
Exploring funding and support

Who is this incubator for?

All disciplines are welcome: we will prioritise applications with a strong emphasis on understanding and tackling societal and environmental challenges.

We especially welcome applications from researchers in arts, humanities and social sciences and from inter/multi-disciplinary projects; and from researchers who have previously been involved in public engagement or policy engagement and are curious about entrepreneurial and innovation pathways.

We invite individuals or teams of up to three people to submit Expressions of Interest.

We welcome:

University of Cambridge researchers (including PhD students) in any discipline including multidisciplinary /interdisciplinary teams
University of Cambridge staff members
Collaborators from inside or outside of the university, joining us as part of a team which includes at least one Cambridge researcher or staff member

Our event promotion will aim to reach potential participants who represent diverse experiences and expertise, and we encourage participation by women and minority groups.

If you have any questions about eligibility or the programme, please contact us via email (see below).

How do I get involved?

Submit an Expression of Interest form, and we will contact you for a chat about your idea.

Places on the incubator are limited, and there is an expectation that you will actively participate and work with your programme peers. Sessions will be held in person, at least one team member should be present for each session and the final workshop.

In addition, bursaries and other support may be available to enable participation, for example, to cover travel for student researchers or early-career researchers who would otherwise face barriers to joining the programme.

We’re glad to hear from researchers at any stage who are developing a social innovation project and want to access Cambridge Enterprise support, even if the incubator isn’t the right fit for you now. We offer a wide range of support for Cambridge researchers and entrepreneurs.

Apply here