---
title: "Innovation Assessment"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-209493c8-6756-4bc4-9337-49f3d4e28e71"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-209493c8-6756-4bc4-9337-49f3d4e28e71"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-209493c8-6756-4bc4-9337-49f3d4e28e71.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-209493c8-6756-4bc4-9337-49f3d4e28e71.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DURHAM UNIVERSITY"
published: "2019-02-08"
---

# Innovation Assessment

Buyer: DURHAM UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-209493c8-6756-4bc4-9337-49f3d4e28e71

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-209493c8-6756-4bc4-9337-49f3d4e28e71.json)

## Summary

Durham University is seeking an experienced external partner to conduct innovation assessments as part of the Northern Accelerator project, which has received £4.9 million funding from the UK Government's Connecting Capabilities Fund. This project aims to commercialise research across Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, and Sunderland universities. The contract, valued at £154,500, is currently in the Award stage, with the contract period set to run from 1st March 2019 to 28th February 2021. The procurement method used for this tender was an open procedure, and it covers services related to research and development consultancy.

This tender presents valuable opportunities for businesses specialising in innovation assessment and consultancy services, particularly those with expertise in evaluating emerging technologies, market strategies, and business readiness. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate, as their insights could play a crucial role in supporting the creation and success of spin-outs derived from academic research. Successful bidders will likely help foster a vibrant ecosystem for innovation in the North East of England.

## Notice

Durham University is the lead HEI and budget holder for the Northern Accelerator project; a high profile collaboration with Newcastle, Northumbria and Sunderland universities which has been awarded PS4.9m from the UK Government's Connecting Capabilities Fund as part of the Industrial Strategy. The project will deliver a step change in commercialising research from the four partner universities. The Northern Accelerator programme wishes to contract with an experienced external partner to deliver innovation and business assessments of emerging spin outs and major licensing opportunities arising from the programme. To support the creation and long-term success of spin outs we wish to procure an experienced specialist organisation able to assess business strengths and weaknesses across a range of different factors. The purpose of these assessments will be to determine business readiness and key areas that need to be addressed in any subsequent business development and must include, as a minimum, detailed assessment of: 1. Product offering and design 2. Underpinning technology 3. Underpinning IP 4. Market 5. Product pricing strategy 6. Legislative and regulatory impacts upon commercialisation 7. Supply chain and route to customer 8. Management team and expertise 9. Business Financing Please note this is an award notice and the University is not taking expressions of interest for this work.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/acdebad2-ba14-4f21-9d54-66c2c68e5f76 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Feb 2019 |
| Submission deadline | 25 Jan 2019 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 8 Feb 2019 |
| Contract period | 1 Mar 2019 - 28 Feb 2021 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £154,500 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £154,500 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DURHAM UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | DURHAM |
| Post town | Durham |
| Postcode | DH1 3LE |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC41 Durham |
| Local authority | County Durham |
| Electoral ward | Durham South |
| Westminster constituency | City of Durham |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE COMMERCIAL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

## Release History

- 8 Feb 2019 at 12:05 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/acdebad2-ba14-4f21-9d54-66c2c68e5f76

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/acdebad2-ba14-4f21-9d54-66c2c68e5f76
  8th February 2019 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-209493c8-6756-4bc4-9337-49f3d4e28e71. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-209493c8-6756-4bc4-9337-49f3d4e28e71.json.