Raising the Stakes: An Event-Based Model for SHAPE Commercialisation
• Phase 1
Who is the Lead Institution?
University of Derby
Who are the Current Partner Institutions?
Queen’s University Belfast
What is the Project Doing?
This project is developing an illustrated toolkit that demonstrates an event-based model for the commercialisation of SHAPE research. It offers practical guidance to both researchers and professional services staff on designing, delivering and monetising research-led cultural events.
The toolkit is narrated by Dracula, a public-domain figure whose long commercial afterlife makes him a fitting guide to the risks and rewards of commercialisation. This form directly addresses the affective barriers that sit alongside academic commercialisation: fear of over-commodification, reputational risk, and the cultural shift involved in treating research as something that can support itself financially.
The model is tested through a mini film festival at Derby QUAD on 3–5 July 2026, drawing on insights from the AHRC-funded Dracula Returns to Derby project.
How Can Members Get Involved?
Members can engage with the toolkit, attend an autumn dissemination symposium, and apply the model to their own research commercialisation and public engagement activities.
Point of contact:
Matthew Cheesman, M.Cheeseman@derby.ac.uk
