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From Research to Real‑World Impact
RisingWISE is a cross‑institutional programme that nurtures women’s engagement with commercialisation as a means of generating economic, social and environmental impact. Tailored for women early career researchers and faculty in STEMM across academia and industry, the programme addresses the challenge of connecting research with business and industry. Developed collaboratively by the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, RisingWISE brings together women from both institutions and industry partners to share experience, build relationships and explore pathways to real‑world impact.
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0 %
of participants would recommend the programme to a colleague or friend.
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0 /10
Average feedback score for the programme
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0 %
of participants said RisingWISE has already changed their thinking about their future
The award-winning RisingWISE enterprise programme for women in STEMM has wrapped for this year, finishing with a residential at Cranfield University after several weeks of online engagement.
The programme, delivered in partnership between the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, had 31 participants from the UoC. Through skills development workshops and peer collaboration, our participants developed new professional contacts, tested and refined early-stage ideas, and gained exposure to entrepreneurial thinking, learning what that might look like in the lab, or in starting a venture.
We had a highly engaged cohort, with participants actively exchanging expertise and building relationships that extended beyond the programme itself.
Feedback demonstrates the programme’s impact, with an average rating of 9.5 out of 10 and 100 per cent of participants saying they would recommend it to a colleague or friend. Half of participants report that RisingWISE has already changed their thinking about their future, with many gaining confidence, practical tools and a clearer sense of direction. Participants are now considering a range of pathways across academia, industry, venture creation and commercialisation, reflecting the programme’s core message that there is no single route to success.
During the 2-day residential in Cranfield, the interdisciplinary teams transformed their research into venture ideas and delivered high-quality pitches to a panel of judges. The standard was exceptional, underlining that if this can be achieved in such a short time, the potential for these researchers to create world-changing impact is considerable!
Overall, RisingWISE has been instrumental in building confidence, leadership skills and helping women ECRs in STEMM further develop the toolkit they need to take the next step in their career.
RisingWISE is free for all participants and is funded through HEIF, the Royce Institute, the School of Technology, the School of Physical Sciences, the School of Biological Sciences and Ceres Agri-Tech, based out of Cambridge Enterprise
By Helen Alexander, Director of IE Cambridge and Katia Smith-Litiere, Development Consultant (Entrepreneurial skills), Postdoc Academy
Reflections from past participants
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“What sets RisingWISE apart from other programmes is the access it’s given me to amazing role models in STEM, who have shown me what’s possible and given me the tools to go after it. Programmes like this are essential because they open doors, build supportive networks, and help us feel confident enough to walk through them.”
“The academic journey can also be very isolating and challenging at various levels. RisingWISE provided me with a safe space to express myself within an amazing community, offering crucial moral support, motivation, and key tools to navigate my journey.”
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“I still have a vivid memory of my first day of RisingWISE – I felt I found the group I was looking for for a long time – a group of women who understand me at a deeper level since they were having very similar concerns, questions and dilemmas about our professional lives, navigating
academia, finding balance between personal and professional goals.”“There are so many inspirational paths available to postdocs, the RisingWISE Programme helps you believe that they are within reach. Often, women postdocs lack self-confidence, the RisingWISE Programme gives you the boost of confidence you need to “make it” in academia.”
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“RisingWISE is overall and excellent programme and unique in being, not only aimed at women-only, but crucially delivered by women only. There is a recognized need for role models and mentors to women in higher level positions in industry and academia and RisingWISE just connects all the dots providing this networking opportunity together with invaluable learning.”
“RisingWISE is brilliant for hearing about other women’s career paths, opening your mind to what might be possible and making you realize that a lot of issues and experiences are shared.”
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“I have not seen any other training opportunities that are so in depth or that span over such a long time, meaning that the learning isn’t just on one day, but is provided as you develop over time, giving you time to reflect and implement it. Exploring personal and professional development in a woman only space allows for issues specific to women to be discussed more freely.”
“I have no doubt that I will use (and significantly benefit from using) every single skill I acquired as part of this training. Skills of negotiating, networking, pitching my ideas are crucial skills in my career development”
