The Foundation is pleased to see that the University of Surrey’s iTEK programme, established with funding from the ERA Foundation, continues to flourish. It provides engineering students with vital real-world experience while connecting businesses with emerging talent. Andrew Everett, CEO and Executive Secretary of the ERA Foundation, visited the Surrey Enterprise Hub in February to meet with students and faculty involved in the programme.
Established in 2022 through a £195,600 donation from the ERA Foundation, the University of Surrey’s iTEK programme embeds industry experience directly into MSc modules, creating a powerful bridge between academic learning and workplace application.
“The ERA Foundation is delighted with the impact of the University of Surrey’s iTEK programme,” said Andrew Everett. “This initiative, which we were proud to help establish with our funding, allows students to gain real-world experience working on live projects with high-tech companies. It directly aligns with our mission to inspire young people and support the development of the next generation of UK engineers.”
Now in its third successful year, the programme brings engineering, software and business students together to work with companies including Bina Robotics, Edibl, and Yenu Health. Students receive coaching in intrapreneurship and work in teams to develop innovations for technology businesses. One notable success includes an iTEK project developed with AirNode that gained global recognition through the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2024.
Student feedback confirms the programme’s value. “The iTEK project offered me the perfect opportunity to work alongside a company on a real-world problem,” said Natalya Pereira, a Computer Science and Electronic Engineering undergraduate. “I’ve been able to practice and improve skills learned at university, apply them to problems, and learn from my teammates.”
The ERA Foundation’s continued support allows the University’s programme to extend for another year, further strengthening the academic-industry collaboration model. Surrey is now actively seeking SMEs in future tech and electech to provide innovation challenges for MSc AI students. Participating companies receive an innovation team for a short-term project funded by the programme.
“By supporting initiatives like Surrey’s iTEK programme, the ERA Foundation demonstrates its commitment to creating opportunities for UK engineering students,” Everett added. “Through fostering these academic-industry partnerships, we’re helping to ensure the UK maintains its strength in electech manufacturing and innovation.”
