Social Science Commercialisation Case Studies
BackResources30th September 2021
These case studies were drawn from across members of the Aspect Network to highlight just some of the innovative ventures being produced at these universities. Looking across a variety of sectors including Healthcare, Information & Communication and Leisure & Tourism, these case studies show the route to market for each venture; the impact they had and continue to have; key learnings gained in their journey, and insights and advice from those who developed them.
Photo by GEORGE DESIPRIS from Pexels
Funded Project:
Case Studies

Case studies are a critical mechanism for sharing insights and raising the profile of social sciences commercialisation. These case studies aim to achieve the following aims:
- Show examples of commercialisation or other knowledge exchange projects and/or programmes;
- Inspire academics and industry to participate in social sciences commercialisation; and business engagement, and to see it as relevant to them.
- Build capacity and share learnings (‘how to‘) for practitioners.
A social scientist in a start-up world
Aspect Member: Zinc
Venture: Zinc Venture Builder and Academy Programmes
Researchers are transferring their skills for the benefit of a wide range of new ventures, supporting mission-driven start-ups to achieve large scale impact.
Empowering women to improve their sexual wellbeing
Aspect Member: Zinc
Venture: Ferly
A female tech start-up is supporting women to improve their sexual health and wellbeing via the development of a sexual self-care and therapeutic app
Improving water supplies through mobile data
Aspect Member: University of Oxford
Venture: Smart Handpumps
Oxford researchers are improving drinking water supplies for rural communities in Africa through modern mobile phone technology
Creative arts conquer conflict
Aspect Member: Manchester University
Venture: In Place of War
A global spin-out is using creativity and the arts as a tool for positive social change across the world, transforming cultures of violence and suffering into ones of hope, opportunity and freedom.
Keeping older people active and independent
Aspect Member: Manchester University
Venture: Keep-on-Keep-up (KOKU)
Keep-on-Keep-up is an NHS approved, highly rated digital health system which is helping older adults to age well, reduce their risks of falling and take control of their health.
Connecting the UK NGO sector 2021
Aspect Member: Manchester University and The University of Sheffield
Venture: NGO Explorer
A website is enabling users to search for UK-based development charities across the world and enabling the building of networks for smaller NGOs and reducing inequalities in the sector.
Placing people at the heart of public service delivery 2021
Aspect Member: The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Venture: SEMA
An award winning start-up social enterprise in Uganda is gathering realtime citizen feedback, leading to the improvement of public services
Taking multi-dimensional poverty fighting methods to the private sector
Aspect Member: University of Oxford
Venture: SOPHIA
A social enterprise is helping businesses to measure the multiple levels of poverty in their workforce and develop practices to help improve the lives of employees
Building trade-policy capacity 2021
Aspect Member: University of Sussex
Venture: InterAnalysis
InterAnalysis, a social sciences spinout is helping governments decipher trade policies, across the world.
Positively waking up the nation 2021
Aspect Member: Zinc
Venture: Method X Studios Ltd
A digital platform that is promoting good mental health and wellbeing across the UK
Increasing future flood resilience
Aspect Member: London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Venture: Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance
A multi sector partnership is helping communities build their resilience to flood risks and develop innovative preventative approaches.
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