The University of Portsmouth is celebrating the success of the 'Research to Value' programme, an initiative designed to help researchers and professionals turn their ideas into real-world solutions.
The scheme, run by Skillfluence , gives academics a clear process for identifying opportunities, reducing risks, and moving innovative ideas toward commercial success.
It is part of the £487,000 'Bridging the Gap' project, funded by UKRI and led by the University's Department of Research and Innovation (DRI), that aims to create more economic value from existing University research in the Wessex region.
In just four sessions, 60 participants from five universities - including Chichester, Arts University Bournemouth, Solent, and Health Sciences University - gained the skills to bring their ideas to life. This included learning to identify and define commercial opportunities, address risks around research, build momentum, and map routes to delivery.
Demand was high, with 95 applications for just 60 places in the first two groups. A researcher at the University of Chichester described it as "a programme to quickly establish which ideas are worth spending time and resources on."
Dr Rachel Clark, Chief Operating Officer at Skillfluence, said: "Participants need to feel that it is immediately relevant to them. As a result, we saw strong engagement, with over 90 per cent attendance across all sessions."
Dr Louise Farrand, Head of IP and Commercialisation at the University of Portsmouth, highlighted how quickly participants made progress: "It was amazing to see ideas take shape so clearly and quickly in just four sessions.
"This programme isn't just for academics - it has the potential to bring innovative solutions to businesses, communities, and industries."
Participants can now move forward with Oxentia's follow-up programme, where they will refine their ideas, identify customers, and explore financial viability.
