Social Science Commercialisation Case Studies

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30th 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. 

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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

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This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Download-the-report.png

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.

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This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Download-the-report.png

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

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This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Download-the-report.png

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.

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This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Download-the-report.png

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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