Igniting Innovation: Early Career Researchers Shine at the 2026 Researcher Launchpad Showcase
MEC programme empowers researchers to explore commercial potential and fast track real-world impact
MEC鈥檚 inaugural Researcher Launchpad programme reached an exciting finale on Tuesday 10th March, as early career researchers came together to present the commercial potential of their research to a panel of expert judges.
This marked the culmination of months of entrepreneurial exploration, customer discovery and skills development delivered through the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre鈥檚 newest flagship programme.
The final session featured a closed-door pitching round in which researchers unveiled early-stage innovations from across all faculties of the University. The judging panel provided targeted feedback on each idea - assessing commercial viability, clarity of value proposition, customer insight and potential for future development.
Following deliberations, all participants reconvened for the announcement of this year鈥檚 award recipients, alongside reflections from the judging panel and a networking session that brought the 2026 cohort together with mentors, programme facilitators and supporters from across the University鈥檚 innovation ecosystem.
A new programme built on a strong legacy
Researcher Launchpad represents the next evolution of the highly successful Researcher to Innovator (R2I) initiative, which since 2019 supported dozens of researchers to progress early-stage commercial ideas and secure innovation funding.
Building on this legacy, the enhanced Researcher Launchpad programme now offers an immersive and agile eight-week pre-accelerator designed for PhD and postdoctoral researchers aiming to develop commercial ventures. Throughout the programme, participants learn to articulate the commercial potential of their research, test and validate market assumptions through customer discovery, refine value propositions and routes to market, develop their pitching and communication skills, and build the confidence and entrepreneurial mindset needed to progress their ideas.
Celebrating achievement and enabling next steps
5 awards totalling 拢20,000 were granted to support the further development of researchers鈥� ideas. These awards will enable winners to progress activities such as prototype development, market research, technical validation, IP exploration or early engagement with users and stakeholders.
The Researcher Launchpad pre-accelerator is more than a programme 鈥� it鈥檚 the bridge that turns brilliant research into real-world impact. At the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, we鈥檝e designed it specifically for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who are seeking to build ventures that solve pressing challenges. This 8-week journey equips our early-career innovators with the tools, mindset, and networks they need to validate ideas, shape business models, and launch with confidence. I鈥檓 incredibly proud to see the next generation of research entrepreneurs taking their first steps here.
Award Winners
Innovation Enabling Award: 拢5,000
Foldes
Balint Macsuga (School of Natural Sciences)
AI for Multilingualism
Dr Nourhan Heysham (School of Environment, Education and Development
"The Launchpad gave me the structure and confidence to move my idea forward. It provided the space to step back from day-to-day research and think through the opportunity from every angle."
Innovation Enabling Award: 拢4,000
Curvindiks
Phumza Sokhetye (School of Natural Sciences)
鈥淭he programme was a transformative experience that helped me refine my research into a venture-ready project and better understand how it can create real-world and social impact. It provided the skills and confidence needed to communicate the value of my work and take the first steps toward commercialisation.鈥�
Innovation Enabling Award: 拢3,000
INVIAM: Microbial Recycling of Critical Metals
Patrick King (School of Natural Sciences)
鈥淭he MEC Researcher Launchpad is a perfect starting point for researchers who are curious about commercialisation, as well as those who are committed to it and taking their first steps towards that goal.鈥�
Ovasight
Faisal Bala (School of Engineering)
鈥淭wo things stand out in this program: the well-paced training that aligns PhD with venture building, and the cash prize awarded upon completion to help you get started.鈥�
Prize winners will also receive expert support and signposting to advanced accelerator programmes and all the participants on the programme will be connected to the wider ecosystem for continued mentoring, guidance and support as they take their research ideas forward.
This year鈥檚 Researcher Launchpad cohort has shown exceptional commitment and creativity. They have embraced every challenge we set, from testing assumptions to engaging with customers, all while managing the demands of their research.
Watching them grow in confidence, sharpen their ideas and support one another has been inspiring. Innovation doesn鈥檛 happen in isolation and what stands out most is how they supported one another, proving that innovation thrives in collaborative communities. We鈥檙e incredibly proud of what they鈥檝e achieved and we鈥檙e excited to continue championing their journeys beyond Researcher Launchpad.
Looking ahead:
As the Researcher Launchpad programme concludes its inaugural cycle, preparations are already underway for the next cohort. Researchers from all disciplines, whether new to innovation or already exploring commercial routes are encouraged to .
The programme forms part of MEC鈥檚 broader Researcher Pathway, a suite of workshops, training and development opportunities designed to strengthen entrepreneurial skills and support researchers to translate their expertise into real-world impact.
Applications to the flagship Venture Further Awards 2026 (VFA) are now open, featuring a brand new 鈥淩esearch-Led Disruption鈥� track. Aligned with the MEC Researcher Pathway, this track supports the critical transition from breakthrough research to commercialisation, helping founders translate innovation into real-world impact.
Full details and application link can be found .
Find out more
To learn about upcoming programmes, workshops and opportunities for researchers, visit: