PRIMA: Public Research Innovation and Market Accelerator
A structured market discovery programme supporting public sector organisations to explore the commercial potential of their Knowledge Assets.
The Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT), part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), is running the fourth cohort of the Public Research Innovation and Market Accelerator (PRIMA), delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
PRIMA is a free, 10-week part time programme designed for UK government research organisations. Through expert led support, market validation and tailored business development, PRIMA equips teams with the skills and tools to identify customer segments, develop value propositions and begin their commercialisation journey.
Key dates
- Applications open: 1 April 2026
- Applications close: 6 July 2026
- Programme start: 15 September 2026
What the programme includes
The programme includes:
- up to £2500 support early-stage market discovery and customer validation activities
- a two-day in person bootcamp focused on business model development and customer engagement
- a personalised Market Explorer report covering analysing potential customers, competitors, suppliers and the intellectual property landscape.
- eight weeks of tailored market validation with weekly coaching from a specialist
- one day of online pitch training, including feedback and refinement
- the opportunity to pitch to an experienced panel of funders and investors
Throughout the programme, participants have weekly access to a team of experts and a network of entrepreneurs, investors and funders.
Hear from PRIMA participants
- PRIMA participants discuss their experience of the programme and reflect on their learning - Introducing PRIMA - Public Research Innovation and Market Accelerator.
Who can apply
PRIMA is open to UK Government Research Organisations, including Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs), UKRI wholly owned institutes, and other public sector bodies that undertake research as a primary function. A full list of eligible organisations is available on the GOTT About us page on GOV.UK.
How to apply
Applications are managed through The Helix Way’s application portal. To apply and find out more about the programme, visit the PRIMA programme page on The Helix Way website.
For any questions, please email KACE@dsit.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
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The title has been updated to use clearer, GOV.UK style language. The opening paragraph has been revised to clearly set out who is involved. Open and close dates have been added as the key dates applicants need to know. Eligibility is now set out directly on the page rather than linking out. The application section now makes it clear that applications are managed externally by The Helix Way. A clear “How to apply” section has been added.
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First published.