About Aspect

Aspect (A SHAPE Platform for Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Transformation) is a network for organisations looking to make the most of commercial and business opportunities from Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts (SHAPE) research.

While the commercialisation pipeline for STEM research is well established, the benefits and profile of research commercialisation within the social sciences, arts and humanities (SHAPE) are less well known. Aspect seeks to redress this balance by connecting universities, businesses, academics and industry leaders to turn ideas into commercial solutions and solve pressing social challenges.

We aim to do this through a series of events and meetings to exchange of good practice; funded projects to test ideas and pilot new approaches and the development of toolkits (including case studies and resources) to share our insights and learnings with the broader community. 

Aspect seeks to:

  • Raise the profile and significance of commercialising social sciences, arts and humanities research
  • Build engagement between academics, business and industry
  • Inspire and encourage SHAPE commercialisation
  • Grow capacity & expertise in SHAPE research commercialisation
  • Develop, share and exchange knowledge and good practice

Find out more about how your organisation can join on our Get Involved page.

Our funding

Aspect is one of 14 projects funded by Research England’s Connecting Capability Fund. Aspect was launched in 2018 and received a £5 million funding award for the first three years of operation. In 2021 Aspect received follow on funding of £2.4 million to mobilise the learnings from the first three years of the programme by expanding the membership, creating further additional good practice in social sciences, arts and humanities (SHAPE) commercialisation, capturing that practice and embedding it across the HEI community.

The Connecting Capability Fund supports universities working together with businesses and other partners, to commercialise research, share good practice and build capacity. The Fund is highlighted in the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy with the aim to enhance the UK’s industrial competitiveness and productivity.

Get involved

Find out how the Aspect network can support you

Get Involved

Explore our Communities of Practice

Sharing knowledge across five core practice areas

Communities of Practice