Programmes & services
From first awareness to scale
Nine programme lines, each attached to a stage of the innovation journey. You can enter at whichever stage matches where your work actually is.
Not sure where you fit?
If you have a problem but no solution, start with idea submission. If you have a solution that needs testing and shaping, apply for pre-incubation.
The programme lines
Nine programmes, in the order an innovator meets them
Open any programme to see its purpose, who it is for, the support it carries and how to take the next step.
01Innovation Awareness
Introduce innovation and entrepreneurship to communities, campuses and institutions that have had little exposure to either.
Who it is for
- Community groups and local organisations
- School, college and university students
- First-time innovators
Support offered
- Awareness camps and orientation sessions
- Innovation talks and demonstrations
- Community engagement activities
02Capacity Building
Build the practical skills an innovator needs before, during and after building a first prototype.
Who it is for
- Students, scholars and faculty
- Grassroots and community innovators
- Early-stage founding teams
Support offered
- Design thinking and entrepreneurship training
- Digital skills and emerging technology exposure
- Financial literacy and IPR awareness
03Pre-Incubation
Take a validated problem and an early idea to the point where a venture decision can responsibly be made.
Who it is for
- Innovators with an identified community or market problem
- Student and scholar teams
- Aspiring first-time entrepreneurs
Support offered
- Idea screening and problem validation
- User discovery and business model development
- Prototype planning and structured mentoring
04Incubation
Support young ventures to build a product, find a market and establish the foundations of a sustainable enterprise.
Who it is for
- Registered and registering startups
- Ventures emerging from pre-incubation
- Research and technology-based ventures
Support offered
- Mentoring and product development support
- Market validation and industry access
- IP guidance and funding linkages
- Workspace, subject to availability
05Entrepreneur Development
Develop the founder, not only the venture — the judgement, communication and leadership an enterprise depends on.
Who it is for
- Founders and co-founders
- Student entrepreneurs
- Community and social entrepreneurs
Support offered
- Bootcamps and business planning
- Lean startup practice
- Leadership, communication and pitch training
06Prototype / MVP
Move an idea from concept to a working artefact that can be tested in the conditions where it will be used.
Who it is for
- Innovators with a defined concept
- Teams preparing for field pilots
- Technology and hardware innovators
Support offered
- Proof of concept and prototype development
- Testing, iteration and technical mentoring
- Pilot preparation
07Innovation Challenges
Put real problem statements — from communities, institutions and industry — in front of solvers.
Who it is for
- Student and open innovation teams
- Community problem owners
- Industry and institutional sponsors
Support offered
- Hackathons and solution competitions
- Community and industry challenges
- Expert review and prototype support for shortlisted ideas
08Research & Technology Translation
Connect university research to application, so that knowledge produced on campus reaches use beyond it.
Who it is for
- Faculty and research scholars
- Research groups and laboratories
- Technology-seeking industry partners
Support offered
- Research linkage and technology assessment
- IP support and technology transfer
- Commercialisation pathways
09Growth & Scale
Help a working venture reach more customers, more communities and more durable sources of finance.
Who it is for
- Incubated and graduating ventures
- Ventures with a validated product
- Impact-oriented enterprises
Support offered
- Market access and corporate partnerships
- Investor readiness
- Scale-up and post-incubation support
Dates, fees and cohort details
Each programme publishes its own open call with eligibility, selection criteria, timelines and any cost-sharing. Those details are not stated here in advance of approval.
How programmes map to the journey
Every programme belongs to a stage
The innovation journey is the spine; the programmes are what the Centre actually does at each vertebra.
Community Need
A real problem, identified with the people who live it.
Ideation
Many possible responses, before any single solution.
Design Thinking
Empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test, iterate.
Advanced Tinkering
Hands-on making, measuring and failing cheaply.
Proof of Concept
Evidence that the core idea can actually work.
Prototype / MVP
A working version people can use and critique.
Validation
Tested with users, in the field, against the need.
Pre-Incubation
From validated solution to a viable venture plan.
Incubation
Building the enterprise around the innovation.
Market / Deployment
Reaching customers, or reaching the community.
Scale & Impact
Measured outcomes, not anecdotes.
Scroll the journey horizontally to see all 11 stages.
Community Need
A real problem, identified with the people who live it.
Ideation
Many possible responses, before any single solution.
Design Thinking
Empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test, iterate.
Advanced Tinkering
Hands-on making, measuring and failing cheaply.
Proof of Concept
Evidence that the core idea can actually work.
Prototype / MVP
A working version people can use and critique.
Validation
Tested with users, in the field, against the need.
Pre-Incubation
From validated solution to a viable venture plan.
Incubation
Building the enterprise around the innovation.
Market / Deployment
Reaching customers, or reaching the community.
Scale & Impact
Measured outcomes, not anecdotes.