Proof of Concept

What is Proof of Concept?

Proof of Concept (POC) supports academic staff with the development of commercial ideas to the point at which they can engage with external collaborators and gain further investment. This type of activity will develop ideas with a significant step towards industry engagement and/or commercialisation.

How do I undertake a Proof of Concept?

We currently have the following funding available to support Proof of Concept:

• EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)
• BBSRC Sparking Impact Award (SIA)
• IIKE funding opportunities
• Designer in Residence (DiR)

To apply for POC funding, please contact your faculty Commercialisation/Business Development Manager.

Commercialising Intellectual Property

If you have an idea that you believe has potential commercial value, the first step in the process is to contact Research and Innovation Services (R&IS) with an outline of the idea. Contact can be via phone, email or a simple form (see here). A member of the Commercial Assessment Team will respond to the enquiry and if a more in depth discussion is required a Commercialisation Manager will contact you. If the idea represents a viable commercialisation opportunity then the Commercialisation Manager will work with you to submit a full Commercial Opportunity Disclosure (a COD).

The project described on the COD will then enter the University's Commercial Assessment System (CAS). The Commercialisation Manager will work with you to progress the project through the various stages of the CAS process.

If the project successfully moves to market then this may be transferred as either a licence opportunity, where a third party will pay a fee for rights to use the IP, or through the setting up of a spin-out company, where the company commercialises the IP.

In order to help maximise the commercialisation of IP arising from our ideas and inventions through licensing opportunities and the creation of spin out companies, the University has entered into a partnership with Fusion IP. View a summary of the agreement.

The Commercialisation of IP Team manages the University-wide functions relating to CAS. The team also manages the University IP Portfolio. The team work closely with colleagues in Fusion IP in delivery of the above.