IP 2 SME

As well as supporting spinouts, Forging Ahead is also developing new commercialisation pathways.

Our new programme - ‘IP 2 SME’ - enables the flow of intellectual property (IP) directly from a university into an SME to generate commercial impact.

IP 2 SME places early career researchers with SMEs on a part-time secondment for six months, exposing the researchers to market opportunities for their research and enabling a route to market through collaboration with their SME partner.

The first pilot cohort of researchers took place over 12 weeks in the Spring of 2026 which culminated in a showcase event at the University of Warwick.

The second cohort - targeting research groups from across the 16 universities in the Forging Ahead partnership -  is open for applications 6th October – 6th November 2026, with projects expected to commence January 2027.

Read the news story here.

A college of people in business attire presenting
The End-of-Pilot Showcase at the University of Warwick, July 2026. Photography: Jason Hier

FAQs

What are the timelines for the IP 2 SME cohort?

  • Application period: 6th October - 6th November 2026
  • Cohort Selection process: November - December 2026
  • Cohort begins: January - June 2027 

What universities are taking part?

  • This programme is open to university research groups from Forging Ahead’s 16 university partners. ​
  • The delivery team for the programme is based at the University of Warwick.

How long is the programme?

  • The IP 2 SME collaboration between a university research group/ PI and an SME will last 6 months, starting in January 2027.​
  • It is envisaged that the ECR will be 50% part-time (on average across the 6-month programme timeframe). ​

Who is the target participant in the programme?

Early Career Researchers - typically late-stage PhD students or post-doctoral researchers, from the PI's research group.​

How do I find an SME for a researcher to work with?

  • The main route for this programme is to connect with SMEs is through the academic research group’s existing networks.
  • While this a Midlands initiative, if the SME in question is based outside of the region, they can still participate as what is more crucial is that the researcher and SME have an existing relationship and share a passion to meet a market need. ​

Can spinouts get involved?

Spin-outs are considered SME partners and can fully participate.​

What sectors can researchers need to be working in?

Innovation opportunities and SME partners can come from any sector.

What support is available for the ECR?

  • The ECR will receive bespoke training and support to maximise the successful outcomes of their project.
  • The ECR will prioritise problem-solution fit and product-market fit and how the innovation may need to be refined to meet the market requirements (technical and commercial validation).
  • The ECR, with their project teams, will develop a collaborative fundable plan to deliver the translational steps required to take the innovation to market and license the IP into the SME (post IP 2 SME).

How is IP 2 SME funded?

  • IP 2 SME is funded by Forging Ahead (which is funded through Research England's Connecting Capabilities Fund).
  • Projects receive up to a total maximum of £20k over the 6-month timeframe of the programme
  • The host university would pay the salary (and any agreed travel, expenditure and training costs) of the researcher and claim the money back from University of Warwick (as holder of the Forging Ahead funds for this activity). 

How is this different from ICURe Explore?

  • In ICURe Explore, the ECR is guided by an independent business advisor to look across a wide range of sectors before identifying and focusing on the customer validation stage. 
  • IP 2 SME has no business advisor as this role is performed by the partner SME.
  • IP 2 SME involves a focused market validation & development activity, carried out by the ECR under the guidance, and in collaboration, with the SME partner.

How is this different from a KTP? (Knowledge Transfer Partnership)

  • In a KTP, the ECR is embedded completely in the host company to focus on solving an identified technical challenge which is strategically important to that company.
  • IP 2 SME is focused on identifying market development opportunities to enable tech transfer of publicly funded IP.

Apply

Applications are now open until 6th November.

To apply, please contact your university Tech Transfer Office or email the programme lead Colin Morton: at colin.morton@warwick.ac.uk.

Colin will then supply you with a copy of the application form.