Recently endorsed by the ScaleUp Institute for its distinctive role in connecting ambitious scaling businesses with university research expertise, specialist facilities, and innovation talent, Brunel University London’s Research, Innovate and Emerge (RIEm) initiative enables businesses to collaborate directly with academics and Business Development Managers (BDMs) to co-create R&D projects, validate products through user testing and feasibility studies, and progress along the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale.

The RIEm programme, launched in 2022 by Brunel University and funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), provides free, structured six-month support to cohorts of 20–25 scaling businesses and founders seeking to commercialise innovative solutions. It offers around 30 contact hours through a combination of workshops, expert mentoring, and applied project work, all focused on product research and development, innovation strategy, and funding readiness. Participants also gain access to Brunel’s world-class research base, laboratories, and graduate talent, fostering collaboration and accelerating market readiness and funding success.

RIEm has been particularly impactful for businesses aiming to secure Innovate UK and other public innovation grants. Participants receive dedicated 1:1 guidance on developing competitive grant proposals, investor pitches, and financial plans, alongside introductions to Innovate UK, venture capital firms such as SFC Capital and 24Haymarket, and angel investors. The programme also raises awareness of alternative public and private funding sources, strengthening investment readiness and strategic financial planning.

As a result, RIEm participants have achieved an exceptional 73% Innovate UK grant success rate, far exceeding the national average of 5-10%. Since inception, supported companies have collectively submitted £37 million in funding proposals, securing £5 million in grants and attracting £12.82 million in private investment. Many have gone on to raise follow-on funding and commercialise new products developed in partnership with Brunel’s research teams.

The programme has supported over 100 scaling businesses to date across sectors including Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare and MedTech, Digital and AI, Creative Industries, and Net Zero and Sustainability. An independent evaluation by S4W (2024) confirmed its impact: 82% of participants reported a positive business outcome, 69% increased innovation capacity, and 65% improved their ability to access funding, achieving an outstanding 23.5:1 cost–benefit ratio for participants.

RIEm’s success has been widely recognised, featuring as a National Case Study by the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) and earning praise at the West London Business Awards 2024, where judges described Brunel as “a national exemplar of how a university can combine external funding and use it to support SMEs with a regional focus.” Alumni including Reneural, JurnyOn, G-Volution, Stix Mindfulness, and Mettle Capital credit the programme for helping them secure investment, strengthen innovation pipelines, and bring research-led ideas to market.

By combining academic expertise with practical funding and commercialisation support, RIEm stands out as a proven bridge between research and enterprise, helping scaling businesses turn ideas into impact and access the resources they need to grow.

Research Innovate and Emerge (RIEm) website