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.

Launched in 2022 by Brunel University and funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), the programme provides free, structured six-month support to cohorts of 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, focused on product research and development, innovation strategy and funding readiness. Eligibility has also evolved, with the programme now targeting innovative businesses with £300,000 in revenue/investment and 4–5 FTE staff.

Participants gain access to Brunel’s research base, laboratories and graduate talent, fostering collaboration and accelerating market readiness and funding success. In the latest programme activity, 20 academic partners supported RIEm businesses with collaborative R&D, while 24 businesses were introduced to relevant Brunel laboratories and other specialist facilities.

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 and angel investors. All businesses now also have opportunities to pitch directly to investors as part of the programme. RIEm participants have achieved a 73% Innovate UK submission success rate, compared with a national rate of 5–10%.

The programme also raises awareness of alternative public and private funding sources, strengthening investment readiness and strategic financial planning. Since inception, RIEm businesses have submitted funding proposals worth around £40 million, including £3 million in 2026. In 2025/26, participating SMEs and Brunel University jointly secured £1.7 million in grants. RIEm alumni have continued to attract public and private investment, raising £20 million to date.

The programme has now supported 124 scaling innovative businesses across five cohorts between 2022 and 2026, across sectors including Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare and MedTech, Digital and AI, Creative Industries, and Net Zero and Sustainability. Previous programme evaluation found that 82% of participants reported a positive business outcome, 69% increased their innovation capacity and 65% improved their ability to access funding, with a 23.5:1 cost-benefit ratio for participating businesses. More recent participant feedback also found that 72.7% of respondents reported revenue growth over the previous 12 months.

RIEm’s reach has also continued to expand. The programme has been invited to contribute to business-focused events including Reset Connect 2026 and to support the Heathrow SME Academy as a delivery partner, helping SMEs collaborate with Heathrow Airport. The RIEm model has also been incorporated into a Horizon Europe project in which Brunel is working with five European universities to strengthen entrepreneurship and knowledge exchange between businesses, university staff and students.

RIEm alumni continue to build on the programme’s support. In 2026, RIEm alumnus Kinseed established a new Innovate UK-funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Brunel, while Smarty Plant featured on BBC Dragons’ Den and secured investment. Brunel is also exploring opportunities to develop RIEm further through regional or sector-focused delivery in partnership with other organisations.

Research Innovate and Emerge (RIEm) website