Who was involved in the project?
Royal College of Art & Cranfield University
Susan Postlethwaite s.postlethwaite@mmu.ac.uk; Kat Thiel kat.thiel@rca.ac.uk; Sarah Fletcher s.fletcher@cranfield.ac.uk; Ibetta Eimontaite Iveta.Eimontaite@cranfield.ac.uk;
What was the project doing?
The project was based in Human Factors and design practice research to explore skills levels in garment manufacturing to consider the steps that could be designed out and performed by robots or those needing to remain performed by skilled human makers, importantly identifying requirements for promoting worker satisfaction via new technology and automation, particularly co-botics.
Desk-based research was used to establish the state of the art of the skills levels held by machinists in the UK garment industry and what tools existed to enable analysis of these skills levels, and a limited trial of the eye-tracking analysis to explore cognitive/decision-making activity.
Why was this needed?
The UK’s fashion industry has an international reputation for creative design but it is a field that saw limited impact from new technologies in manufacture. The project began to address the challenges of integrating automation into a highly creative sector with a need for very high levels of agility in production processes.
How could members get involved?
The project team welcomed input from economists and policymakers to inform their understanding of the business case for reshoring UK manufacture. Introductions to engineering/manufacturing sites/research labs and hubs would have been very valuable. They also sought members who were interested in being added to their stakeholder list.
Aspect members: LSE, Partner institution – TBC
What is the project doing?
LSE has developed a business incubator for scalable consultancy hubs (Exchanges) specialising in specific topic areas. The Exchange model is designed to accelerate the successful development of entrepreneurial activity through an array of business support resources and services, developed and managed by LSE Consulting.
This project seeks to develop this concept further by extending the model to involve cross-institutional consulting partnerships with universities that offer complementary services to those from LSE.
Mirroring how Universities successfully forge research partnerships and collaborations with each other to develop joint programmes and projects, this project aims to pilot a joint consulting offer with another University for scalable services.
Why is this needed?
Generally, there is little opportunity for joint consulting projects at an institutional level. Individual academics do sometimes participate in some consulting project activity, but it is based on individual project needs. There is little follow up or opportunity to build on existing relationships with clients in a unified approach. There is also a varying degree of support and infrastructure for consulting services in universities, some operating on a more commercial footing while others operate under more of a research framework. This degree of difference makes it difficult to create consulting partnerships as resources are limited and often overstretched.
There is an opportunity to create a joint Consulting Exchange between a Department or Centre at LSE and a Department or Centre with another university. Matching will be based on identifying complementary services between the Departments or Centres so that the focus is on collaboration rather than competition.
How can members get involved?
The project will provide a pathway for universities to collaborate on consulting in a more formal, proactive way. This approach has already been well established with Research but has not yet been developed in consulting. Universities have an opportunity to compete more against private sector consulting companies if they can overcome the biggest challenge of securing sufficient academic interest in the project. Building a multidisciplinary Exchange between two or more institutions addresses the main challenge faced around capacity. For further information please contact: Jeannine McMahon (j.mcmahon@lse.ac.uk) for any further information.
Aspect members: University of Sussex, University of Manchester.
What is the project doing?
MicroSEM for Net Zero project (Micro and Small Enterprise Methods for Net Zero) aims to engage micro and small businesses (up to 49 people staff) to start thinking about implementing changes to their products and services for achieving Net Zero.
The project will build on the guides and tools developed by Methods for Change and work with micro businesses, entrepreneurs, researchers, business associations, knowledge exchange managers, social enterprises and community organisations to identify and develop guides and tools for change specifically targeting 1) micro businesses and entrepreneurs; and 2) Net Zero (locally based decarbonisation).
Why is this needed?
Lack of knowledge, understanding of how evidence-based science applies to their market, skills and resources are among the top things that lead to lack of engagement for micro businesses and entrepreneurs. Micro-businesses and entrepreneurs are also facing the highest costs for energy and have been identified by the energy regulator Ofgem as one of the hardest to engage with the transition to Net Zero.
How can members get involved?
If members are involved in complementary activities (such as working on methods and tools; decarbonisation activities; engagement activities; and/or working with micro businesses and entrepreneurs, or organisations which have direct access to these stakeholders, please get in touch with Franco Gonzalez at fg90@sussex.ac.uk
Aspect member: Zinc.
What is the project doing?
This project is now concluded and piloted a new programme to provide PhD Candidates (mostly 2nd year of their doctorate) with an opportunity to complete a placement within an early-stage venture for three months, full-time. The programme emphasised short-term immersion in the world of early-stage innovation with the aim of helping early career researchers to both teach in and learn from research-related engagement with start-up founders. In addition to their placement, they received training and developed commercial awareness; a transferable skill they can take back to their doctorate.
Why is this needed?
The placements programme is specifically intended to facilitate and amplify both the use of existing social science research in commercial contexts and the opportunities for meaningful collaboration between social scientists and early-stage innovators. The project expects both placement holders and venture hosts to benefit from their collaboration during the placements themselves. Furthermore, it is hoped that some placement holders will be inspired by their experience to work with or for ventures in the future.
How can members get involved?
For any future programmes, Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) across the UK will be contacted with a specific focus on Social Science departments and faculties. Invitations to apply will be distributed via the DTP Programme Manager to PhD Candidates exposing them to the opportunity.
Contact: Dr Sal Malik (salman@zinc.vc) or Rachel Middlemass (rachelm@zinc.vc).
Aspect member: University of York
What is the project doing?
This project assisted in the development of a commercialisation pipeline for the social sciences at York. It funded a role, providing York with the capacity to lead and/or engage with other Aspect projects.
Why is this needed?
By combining Aspect and ESRC funds this project trialed, and subsequently mainstreamed, a role that will continue beyond the Aspect/ESRC funding periods.
How can members get involved?
N/A
For further information please contact Chris Hewson (chris.hewson@york.ac.uk).
Aspect members: Zinc, Cardiff University, University of Exeter, University of Glasgow, Queen’s University Belfast.
What was the project doing?
This project piloted a new programme to provide mid-career researchers with an exciting and dynamic commercial experience at low cost and minimal burden. The program emphasised short-term immersion in the world of early-stage innovation with the aim of helping researchers to both teach in and learn from research-related engagement with start-up founders. A small cohort of researchers from different disciplines and institutions was supported to work with founders over a total of five days (spread over five weeks from early June). As well as receiving some bespoke training, they applied their research expertise and skills in direct work with founders.
Why was this needed?
Mid-career researchers typically have fewer opportunities than ECRs to explore developmental routes outside academia. This limits opportunities for professional and personal development among this cohort, particularly in terms of their familiarity with and understanding of ways of working with commercial partners.
How could members get involved?
Each confirmed partner recruited at least one mid-career researcher to join the project and provided support for those individuals to participate. These costs were minimal but included researcher buy-out (where required) plus travel and accommodation for in-person components. Other members were welcome to join on the same terms.
For further information, please contact Dr. Sal Malik (salman@zinc.vc) or Rachel Middlemass (rachelm@zinc.vc).
Aspect members: LSE, Oxford University.
What is the project doing?
The main aim of the FastFrame project is to develop a set of 6 reusable wireframe templates to enable new software concepts to be market tested and de-risked at a very early stage. Each template will be suitable for a certain type of software with similar user journeys. These will be defined by concepts that we’re regularly seeing from SHAPE innovators. The aim is to make the templates easy to customize by the academic to bring their concept to life and collect user feedback.
Why is this needed?
This project is needed in order to remove the barriers to defining and testing an innovative software concept from SHAPE research. The quick and easy templates will allow academic innovators to independently customize and create a wireframe, removing the cost and time required to find and pay a developer to define their solution. With FastFrame, they can quickly and cheaply define and ‘stress’ test their idea with real users, pivot fast and define a solution that meets user needs.
How can members get involved?
Members are invited to discuss their SHAPE software projects with the team. This will help the project group common SHAPE software innovations and create wireframes that cover the most common user journeys.
For further information please contact Charlotte Rowan (c.rowan1@lse.ac.uk).
Aspect members: University of York, University of Sussex, Durham University
What was the project doing?
This project built upon the collective learnings and successes of the ESRC NPIF Accelerating Business Collaboration fund to pilot a comprehensive Knowledge Exchange training program for research active and professional support staff.
Activities included:
- Consulting with those who received ABC funds, collating details on training and development activities, understanding the perceived successes, failures, and frustrations of the program.
- Surveying researchers to identify key areas where they wanted and needed development in relation to KE.
- Creating a pilot training program, with potential wider roll-out in 2022/23 (Now available on the Aspect members Platform).
- Creating a library of resources, including a list of training facilitators and their expertise (Now available on the Aspect members Platform).
Why was this needed?
The ESRC ABC programme has generated a wealth of information, experience, and knowledge. However, there was little opportunity to share these experiences and learn from the successes and failures of others for the purposes of future planning. This project aimed to capture this knowledge and share best practices and resources.
How could members get involved?
Members were involved with the project via:
- Connecting with the project via the main ABC contact in their university/DTP.
- Sharing learnings, experience, and ideas for the future with the project team.
- Sharing relevant communications with beneficiaries of their ABC activities.
For more information and to get involved please contact:
Mary Harris (M.F.Harris@sussex.ac.uk)
Charlotte Kerr (charlotte.kerr@durham.ac.uk)
Aspect. members: University of Manchester (In Place of War – In Place of War is a global organisation that uses creativity in places of conflict as a tool for positive change), Queen’s University Belfast.
What was the project doing?
The project had two primary aims:
- Undertake a feasibility/market analysis for commercialising In Place of War’s CASE and other research and practice into commercial education programmes
- Develop a strategy for commercialization for CASE and new programmes in development (Masters and BA)
Why is this needed?
In Place of War have translated research findings into education programmes. The most successful is CASE (the creative and social entrepreneur programme) which was shortlisted for a UNESCO Creative economy prize and has been rolled out in 15 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East in partnership with the British Council and Mastercard Foundation. However, CASE and other programmes that IPOW have developed are reliant on external funding, thus there is a need to develop a strategy to commercialise the programmes to support IPOW’s education work with grassroots organizations in sites of conflict.
How can members get involved?
Members are invited to share ideas and experiences and give feedback/insights on the project.
For further information please contact Alex Riley (alexander.riley@manchester.ac.uk).
Aspect members: University of Manchester, University of Bristol.
This project allowed 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. One of the central aims of the project was to create a commercially viable and self-sustainable legal online platform that would enable knowledge transfer of the findings of the authors’ existing and future research to relevant businesses.
Why was this needed?
There was a widespread assumption that increased use of technology in legal services was always a “positive” development. This assumption was largely based on “utopian” claims about the capacity of technological development to improve legal practice, make it more affordable, and improve the accessibility to legal services. Such assumptions needed to be challenged to ensure the careful and ethically appropriate integration of AI technologies into commercial arbitration processes.
