Research Commercialisation Accelerator
The Research Commercialisation Accelerator (RCA) is Heriot-Watt University’s flagship programme designed to help academic researchers unlock the commercial potential of their work. Whether you’re exploring industry applications for the first time or looking to take your research further, the RCA offers a practical, focused route towards real-world impact.
Led by experienced members of the University’s Business and Enterprise Team, the RCA equips participants with the tools, frameworks and confidence needed to take a validated idea forward. The programme covers everything from opportunity mapping and customer discovery to IP strategy and pitching.
This programme is built for researchers who are ready to explore how their research can create value beyond the academic environment.
What is the Research Commercialisation Accelerator?
The RCA is a structured 6-week programme combining live workshops, self-guided learning, and applied activities. Designed around a low time commitment of 2–4 hours per week, the programme helps researchers build the confidence, networks and know-how to explore commercialisation pathways.
The programme covers:
- Defining and validating opportunities
- Customer discovery and market insights
- Strategy development and industry networking
- IP, investment readiness and pitching your idea
Workshops are delivered in a hybrid format, with a mix of online and in-person sessions at our Edinburgh campus. Participants based outside of Edinburgh are encouraged to express their interest so we can gauge future demand for additional cohorts across our global campuses.
Who is it for?
The RCA is designed for academic research staff who are working on a research project with clear commercial potential. It’s most suitable for those looking to take the next step toward commercialisation, rather than those at the earliest stages of a project.
Participation is also open to PhD students on a case-by-case basis, particularly where a viable, research-backed commercial idea is ready to be explored.
Why take part?
By joining the Research Commercialisation Accelerator, you will:
- Explore the commercial potential of your research
- Understand real-world applications and pathways to impact
- Bridge the gap between research and industry
- Develop practical tools and strategies to connect academic work with commercial opportunity
- Grow your career
- Build skills in enterprise, collaboration and engagement that strengthen your research profile and open new professional routes
- Connect with a community of practice
- Join a supportive network of like-minded researchers and enterprise professionals
- Access enterprise support
- Get guidance from Heriot-Watt’s experienced Business & Enterprise team and wider innovation ecosystem
What participants say
“Thank you for the well-organised and valuable Research Commercialisation Accelerator programme provided by the HWU Business & Enterprise Team. It was a great opportunity to gain insights into research commercialisation. I will follow up with the team.”
“This has been extremely helpful – I’ve been able to understand and identify potential clients and funders.”
“I appreciate the amount of effort and intelligence you devoted to make this happen. Thank you for preparing such a great training programme!”
When is the next cohort?
Dates for the next RCA cohort will be confirmed once we receive sufficient demand. We aim for each group to include around 20–30 participants to ensure a highly engaging, interactive experience. If you’re interested, we encourage you to register your interest early — no commitment is required at this stage.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about research commercialisation or want to learn more about the RCA, we’re here to help.
Contact the team at GRID: GRID@hw.ac.uk or register your interest now to be part of our next cohort: https://forms.office.com/e/KPuGUjGGD3