Helping researchers turn great research into great business
Are you an entrepreneurial researcher who thinks that your research has commercial potential but you're not sure what to do next? You would like to start up a social enterprise, a service business but don’t know how? You want to learn more about routes to market for your research? Then the RCUK Business Plan Competition (BPC) is an ideal opportunity to take your ideas further.
This popular competition offers a prize of £25,000 to the researchers who present the most commercially viable business plan to a panel of experts.
All participants will receive commercialisation and planning training which equips them with the necessary skills, knowledge and support to find successful routes to market - valuable even after and beyond the competition.
As the competition is being supported by UK public funds, the plans submitted are expected to propose business ventures that contribute to economic, social or cultural wealth of the UK. Social enterprises, charitable and non-profit organisations or service businesses are thus as eligible as are more technology-based ideas.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) are leading this year's delivery of the RCUK Business Plan Competition. Professor Rick Rylance, Chief Executive of AHRC: "This is an excellent opportunity for researchers from all disciplines to learn about the business planning process, make key contacts and take positive steps to commercialise the outcomes of their research in line with Research Councils' missions."
The competition is open to individuals or teams of researchers, postdoctoral workers and PhD students based in UK Higher Education Institutions (HEI's) or Public Sector Research Establishments (PSRE) that are eligible to hold Research Council grants from across the whole spectrum of academic research.
An application form and further details on how to take part in the competition can be found at the RCUK Business Plan Competition page. The closing date for entries is 4 December 2009.