All Funded Projects live here.
What is the project doing?
This project will allow researchers to engage with the relevant commercial stakeholders (specifically AI firms, law firms and arbitral institutions) to ensure the careful and ethically appropriate integration of AI technologies into commercial arbitration processes through the application of the academic research conducted by the authors.
Contact
Jasem Tarawneh
jasem.tarawneh@manchester.ac.uk
Omar Madhloom
omar.madhloom@bristol.ac.uk
What is the project doing?
MicroSEM is a project led by a team at the University of Sussex Business School, which aims to understand how to better engage with the UK’s smallest businesses, micro and small businesses (up to 49 employees), for supporting their transition to Net Zero.
In the UK, small and medium size businesses (from zero to 250 employees) collectively emit around half (43-53%) of UK’s business sector carbon emissions, however 76% of SMEs are yet to implement decarbonisation strategies with only 3% having measured their carbon emissions to set reduction targets. The existing literature on SME and Net Zero argues that 34% of businesses are more likely to not be prepared for transitioning to Net Zero, suggesting these are often the smallest businesses.
Current academic discussions on SME decarbonisation in the UK suggest that micro and small businesses (up to 49 employees) remain an understudied area of research. We are creating outputs of this project including a video and tools for better approaching micro and small businesses in relation to Net Zero. These will be available for members in December 2022. In this event we will share lessons learned, opportunities to get involved and seek member input for the project.
Why is this needed?
September and October.
How can members get involved?
We have submitted a follow up research project (January to June 2023) for Aspect funding in which we have invited the University of Reading to participate in.
We are also drawing on the Methods for Change research and will be getting in touch and engaging with ASPECT’s Business Engagement Community of Practice to recruit participants, co-produce outputs and disseminate key learnings.
Contact
Ralitsa Hiteva, Senior Research Fellow, University of Sussex
r.hiteva@sussex.ac.uk
Franco Gonzalez, Research Assistant, University of Sussex
fg90@sussex.ac.uk
What is the project doing?
Through a combination of case studies and practice based design research, the project seeks to develop and deliver a design-driven training model to support the expansion of social entrepreneurial practices within RCA students and staff. After conducting a literature review, we have identified a set of dynamic capabilities and methodologies for social entrepreneurship that has informed the design of a survey that we will start circulating among practitioners.
During the rest of the year we will be designing a training programme to launched in March. Involvement can come through three routes: by completing a survey that will be launched in May 2022; by pointing us to successful case studies of social entrepreneurship; and by being part of a training pilot. The intention is to disseminate the training programme throughout the membership.
Why is this needed?
How can members get involved?
Contact
Nicolas Rebolledo, Tutor in Service Design, Head of Service Futures Lab, Royal College of Art
nicolas.rebolledo@rca.ac.uk
What is the project doing?
In 2022, Zinc piloted a new placements programme, allowing PhD students – the majority from SHAPE disciplines – to work with and in Zinc startups. Eight students joined us in May from a range of institutions and disciplines, but with a shared interest in improving children’s mental health, which was the focus of our most recent venture-builder. Over three months, they were able to gain substantial hands-on experience with startups and to apply their research skills and knowledge to the early-stage development of new commercial products and services. They also worked together on a group Venture Project, to develop a commercial solution supporting children experiencing eco-anxiety.
Both student and venture participants in this programme provided very positive feedback. Students particularly highlighted the value of joining a cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary cohort; working together on the Venture Project; gaining direct experience of work with founders / ventures; and being able to access support and programme content from Zinc.
The experience of running this programme has confirmed that there is both a significant gap in the availability of startup-based placement opportunities for PhDs (particularly in SHAPE), and a real demand for this sort of placement among students. We hope to run further Innovation Internship programmes in future.
Phase 3 focus: Run a second round of the Innovation Internships placement programme, building on the pilot experience to refine and enhance the programme to move towards a sustainable programme.
Why is this needed?
Given the clear demand for this sort of placement among PhD students and the mutual benefits that we observed to both students and ventures, we are keen to offer further Innovation Internships with Zinc / Zinc ventures. Before the end of this programme, we ran two online information sessions for PhD students interested in participating in a future programme. Even with minimal promotion, hese attracted ~20 participants from a range of institutions and disciplines. Students from the current cohort joined those sessions and were able to share their own experiences with prospective applicants to a future programme.
How can members get involved?
This programme has now finished. However, we hope to run further iterations of the Innovation Internships placements for PhD students, with a new cohort starting in January 2023. We would welcome members’ input to the development of that new programme and their support with promoting this opportunity to students at their own institutions.
We also welcome ongoing expressions of interest from academics at ASPECT institutions who might be keen to engage with companies in our portfolio of existing ventures (all of which focus on mental health, healthy ageing, and the future of work). Anyone keen to learn more can contact Rachel Middlemass
(rachelm@zinc.vc) for more information.
We are also keen to hear from any academic researchers who might be interested in joining us as Visiting Fellows to the next venture-builder, which will develop new companies seeking to transform the industries with the biggest environmental impacts. Researchers can register their interest in this here: https://bit.ly/3RNrub2
Contact
Rachel Middlemass, Head of R&D Partnerships, ZINC
rachelm@zinc.vc
What is the project doing?
This project will explore how systems underpinning academic career progression can be better aligned to support meaningful engagement with Entrepreneurship & Innovation. It will: examine the current state of play with Aspect partners in terms of recognition, reward and workload allocation; co-create solutions; and will provide recommendations for developing and implementing an enterprise pathway(s).
Why is this needed?
Completing research and preparing findings for dissemination. Working on follow-on project
How can members get involved?
The project received Phase 3 funding from Aspect and will share in the session how members can get involved, including: Interviews with senior stakeholders; Survey of academic staff (in preparation); Focus group with SHAPE researchers (in preparation).
Contact
Paul Robert, Lead Researcher, University of Sussex
paul.roberts@collaboratehe.co.uk
Prof Norbert Morawetz, Henley Business School, University of Reading
n.morawetz@henley.ac.uk
What is the project doing?
The project aims to develop a new and dedicated multi-step pathway to support academics interested in forming a social venture. The unique pathway will include a set of tools and guidance documents, to allow innovation teams to readily guide the formation of a social venture.
The Translational Impact Acceleration Hub (Phase 2), Social Ventures Pathways project, and the RC CoP project will work together on this project to create complementary resources for both academic and professional services staff.
Why is this needed?
The project received Phase 3 funding and will be commencing soon. Planned activities are below:
Work Package 1 – Audit of material
Work Package 2 – Creation of New Materials
Work Package 3 – Funding Guide
Work Package 4 – Sharing sessions
How can members get involved?
The project received Phase 3 funding from Aspect and will share in the session how members can get involved.
Contact
Charlotte Rowan, LSE
C.Rowan1@lse.ac.uk
What is the project doing?
Using a thematic context (Sustainability; Digital data and risk; Levelling up) as a hook to get academics engaged, the programme will showcase pathways to increase academic engagement. Includes workships with academics, ECRs, and businesses; and development of case studies and a framework for academic engagement.
Why is this needed?
The project will work in collaboration with the ‘Building on ABC’ Phase 3 project.
How can members get involved?
The project received Phase 3 funding from Aspect and will share in the session how members can get involved.
Contact
Ranbir Jabanda, University of York
What is the project doing?
Following the first scoping phase of the ‘Train the Trainer’ project in 2021/22, the KE/Comms CoP will now implement plans to improve the accessibility and use of the toolkits and other outputs produced in the first phase of Aspect and develop some new resources and sessions for PS staff tasked with
communicating/promoting/supporting knowledge exchange (KE), innovation and its impact for SHAPE researchers within their institutions.
The main aim of the project is not to add significantly to the volume of resources on the Aspect platform, but rather to curate existing resources and develop short, targeted resources (checklists, slide decks, templates) to better support PS staff. We would also like the ethos of ‘Train the Trainer’ to be adopted by all Aspect projects, i.e. thought given to outputs and how PS staff can best use them.
Our platform (on the Aspect Get Two It) will provide templates for doing so, and a means of sharing any new resources going forward. We welcome contributions from Aspect members as we begin to develop these resources, particularly via members of the KE/Comms CoP and through the knowledge shares we run at our monthly meetings, which will feed into the project.
Why is this needed?
Awaiting final confirmation of Phase 3 funding application.
How can members get involved?
More to come once phase 3 funding commences.
Contact
Louise Jones, Head of Research Communications and Engagement, LSE
l.jones2@lse.ac.uk
What is the project doing?
A collaboration between three Aspect member institutions, this project will build upon the collective learnings and successes of the ESRC NPIF Accelerating Business Collaboration fund, to pilot a comprehensive Knowledge Exchange training programme for research active and professional support staff.
With is Phase 3 Funding, the project will draw on learnings from the ASPECT Phase 2 Project “Building on ABC- Co-creating an Online training resource for social science researchers” we propose the development of training materials to give SHAPE academics insight into the processes and requirements to develop business partnerships.
Why is this needed?
The project will be starting soon its next phase of activity soon, with Phase 3 funding.
How can members get involved?
The resources generated by the project wil be usable by members.
Contact
Ranbir Jabanda, Social Sciences Partnerships Manager, University of York
ranbir.jabanda@york.ac.uk
Michael Gray, Business Engagement Officer, University of Glasgow
michael.g.gray@glasgow.ac.uk
Louise Jones, Head of Research Communications and Engagement, LSE
l.jones2@lse.ac.uk
What is the project doing?
The proposed project seeks to explore the possibilities of commercializing education programmes that emerged from an AHRC funded project, In Place of War (IPOW) at the University of Manchester. In doing so, this would enable IPOW’s education programmes to be offered for free for participants from disadvantaged backgrounds and in communities education setting in sites of conflict. Thus, it is important in exploring new ethical models for commericalsing training.
The initial analysis into the undergraduate market, discounted the feasibility of developing accredited BA modules of CASE. However, the market analysis identified the feasibility of executive leadership development programmes and music making CDP by adapting existing CASE resources.
The next phase of the project will continue to refine the initial executive leadership programme concept and pricing strategy as well as review of how to adapt existing CASE materials.
The final output due in February 2023 will be an evaluation report on the findings of the initial phase. Members can get involved by sharing their insights or experiences into ethical models for commercial lifelong learning training.
Next steps
How can members get involved?
Give feedback on the next steps of the project or share any experiences of the practical application of ethical business models in commercial training programmes.
Contact
Theresa O Bradaigh Bean, Head of Research and Education, In Place of War. teresa@inplaceofwar.net
