PS22411 - Cyber Security Academic Startup Accelerator - Industry Challenge-led Cohort

***** THIS IS AN AWARD NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION *****

This procurement is being concluded following a mini competition under the RM6126 Research & Insights DPS

Brief Description of Requirement

The Cyber Academic Start-up Accelerator Programme (CyberASAP) is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and delivered by Innovate UK and Innovate UK KTN (KTN). It supports the commercialisation of UK cyber security research and helps academic researchers to transition ideas into validated commercial propositions. This is realised by developing the academics' entrepreneurial skills through course-based modules and expert-led activities throughput project implementation. In doing this, it recognises the barriers that academics face when commercialising research, including the lack of dedicated time available to research the market and to validate potential products.

CyberASAP will help academics create proof of concepts and give them the skills they need to develop a business around their work, as well as the knowledge of how best to attract investment and promote their product or service. This will encourage the growth of the cyber ecosystem in all regions and devolved administrations of the UK and act as a catalyst for wider economic growth.

Following a review of the CyberASAP, DSIT has recommended the introduction of a thematic call for academic projects focused on market failures in the cyber security sector, in addition to the current open call. The expectation is that academics addressing a known industry challenge will stand a greater chance of commercialising their research. As such we are looking to amend the scope of the existing programme to include the delivery of a challenge-led cohort alongside the open cohort. This Further Competition seeks to identify a market-facing supplier who can bring with them market challenges and support the delivery of the challenge-led cohort alongside the existing open cohort delivered by KTN.

Academics in the challenge-led cohort will participate in all of the same workshops, bootcamps and events as the open cohort, but we anticipate the new supplier delivering targeted activities, content and mentorship, specific to the challenge(s) that the academics are seeking to address.