Last chance to submit to 2009/10 RCUK Business Plan Competition

Time is running out for entrants into the 2009/10 Research Councils UK (RCUK) Business Plan Competition with the 4th December deadline approaching fast.

This hugely popular competition offers a prize of £25,000 to the researchers who present the most commercially viable business plan to a panel of experts. Participants receive free training throughout the competition which equips them with the necessary skills to find successful routes to market.

If you're a researcher who thinks that your research has commercial potential but you're not sure what to do next and want to learn more about routes to market for your research, then the RCUK Business Plan Competition is an ideal opportunity to take your ideas further. Ideas can be at a conceptual stage or further developed.

The closing date for entries is 4 December 2009.

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Notes

Contact:
Chloë Somers
RCUK Press Officer
Tel: 01793 444592

About the RCUK Business Plan Competition

1. The competition is designed to help entrepreneurial researchers from across the UK find successful routes to market. Once accepted for the competition you will benefit from training through a two day commercialisation workshop
2. If you are successful in moving through to the second phase you will receive finance training and have access to a wide range of skilled experts with experience of research exploitation. They will help to guide you in the preparation of a high quality business plan the essential requirement for marketing your business idea to potential investors.
3. Prizes of up to £25,000 will be awarded to the business plans judged to have the best potential to help turn business ideas into reality.
4. To participate in the competition you need to submit a one-page outline of your business idea by 4th December 2009.

About Research Councils UK

Research Councils UK is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils; they invest annually around £3 billion in research, covering the full spectrum of academic disciplines from the medical and biological sciences to astronomy, physics, chemistry and engineering, social sciences, economics, and the arts and humanities. www.rcuk.ac.uk

The seven UK Research Councils are:

• Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
• Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
• Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
• Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
• Medical Research Council (MRC);
• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
• Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).