Our ACTUATE Accelerator programme is back in February 2023

Are you interested in commercialising academic research at Essex?

We’re excited about the return of the ACTUATE Accelerator programme in 2023.

We have just a few spaces left for academics to apply for so it’s time for any final applicants to get your Expression of Interest submitted for ACTUATE3 before the Thursday 12 January 2023 deadline.

About ACTUATE3

Organised by the REO Knowledge Exchange team and returning for its third year, Essex ACTUATE (germinAte : inCubaTe : cUltivate : AcceleraTE) Accelerator is a targeted programme designed to support academic colleagues to develop your innovative research outputs into viable commercial ventures that address key challenges faced by communities, society, and the economy.

In 2023, the in-person programme will run on Thursday afternoons between 2pm and 4pm for two to three months from Thursday 8 February 2023.

Who Is ACTUATE3 for?

ACTUATE3 is open to academic staff from all disciplines and faculties.

We know there are numerous ideas and propositions for commercialisation in development across the University. To support these, we’re inviting you to join a select group of like-minded academics looking to gain insight into how to translate research findings into real-world applications and help move innovative ideas from academic journals into the knowledge marketplace.

ACTUATE3 Benefits

Based on our experience of running ACTUATE over the last two years, we have refined a programme of intensive support that will be delivered by specialists from our Innovation Centre, Knowledge Exchange, and Start-Up Support teams, alongside external experts.

Taking part will see you benefit from:

• Seminars and workshops are focused on idea generation, business model canvas, market research and discovery, value creation and customer segmentation, business finance, IP and commercialisation, and pitching skills.
• Ongoing mentoring and support for project development from the REO Knowledge Exchange team and its wider network of partners, collaborators, funders, previous beneficiaries, and Entrepreneurs in Residence across Feb – July 2023.
• Access to finance, through a pitching competition in June 2023 where winning propositions will secure investment to help refine their offer and understand their market.
• Attendance at a Grande Finale event for invited participants, businesses, and regional business leaders (Summer 2023). An ideal opportunity to showcase new products and services developed as a result of ACTUATE since the programme began in 2020.

Apply to participate today

If you’re interested in taking part, download our Expression of Interest form today and submit it to actuate@essex.ac.uk by Thursday 12 January 2023.

Once received, the REO Knowledge Exchange team will be back in touch with more information on the 2023 programme.