Here, you’ll find overviews of the exceptional projects supported by the Aspect Testbed over the years. The valuable insights gained from these initiatives are shared across our network, fostering collaboration and enhancing collective knowledge. These learnings also inform the development of our training programmes—both online and in-person—ensuring they remain at the forefront of modern advancements and expertise.
Testbed Collaborations
We’re constantly exploring new ways to stimulate innovation across Testbed activities and deepen the impact of Testbed findings; working with Higher Educational Institutions, Government bodies and private and public organisations alike
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Phase 1
CreaTech Commercialisation Network (CTCN)
This project is establishing a collaborative network focused on commercialising creative technology (CreaTech) research. It brings together academics, TTOs, and industry partners to address shared challenges in areas such as immersive media, AI in the arts, and digital content.
Phase 1
From Insight to Impact: SHAPE Commercialisation Speaker Series
This project is piloting a cross-institutional speaker series to showcase SHAPE commercialisation and inspire academic engagement. With a focus on pipeline building, and especially relevant for HEIs that are less research commercialisation-mature, it addresses the lack of visible examples and shared learning opportunities by delivering talks featuring real-world commercialisation journeys.
Phase 1
Mapping SHAPE Commercialisation Support Across the UK
This project is creating a national mapping tool to bring together SHAPE commercialisation support into a single, accessible resource. It develops a structured database and interactive interface to help academics, TTOs, and stakeholders identify relevant support quickly.
Phase 1
Raising the Stakes: An Event-Based Model for SHAPE Commercialisation
This project is developing an illustrated toolkit that demonstrates an event-based model for the commercialisation of SHAPE research. It offers practical guidance to both researchers and professional services staff on designing, delivering and monetising research-led cultural events.
Phase 1
SHAPE Health Community
This project is establishing a cross-institutional community focused on SHAPE Health commercialisation. It brings together researchers and practitioners to explore opportunities at the intersection of SHAPE research and health innovation.
Phase 1
SHAPE Up Incubation Hub
This project is developing a prototype digital platform to support early-stage SHAPE commercialisation. The SHAPE Up Hub connects research outputs—such as toolkits, training, and resources—with external users via a centralised platform using a freemium model.
Phase 2
SHAPE Ventures Directory Phase 2
This project expands the SHAPE Ventures Directory into a comprehensive, cross-institutional resource showcasing commercialisation activity across the Aspect network. It systematically identifies and documents ventures, improving visibility and accessibility of SHAPE innovation.
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Phase 2
A human centric research of skills and decision making capacity
Led by researchers from the RCA, Cranfield, and Manchester Metropolitan, the project team are building a business case to bring sustainable fashion garment manufacturing back to the UK.
Phase 2
ABaCuss Phase 2
Creating meaningful intrapreneurial placements and training for researchers.
Phase 3
APPLE
This project will explore how systems underpinning academic career progression can be better aligned to support meaningful engagement with Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
Phase 2
Apple – Academic Promotion Pathways linked to Enterprise
Aligning academic career progression through systematic change.
Phase 2
Applying social science to early-stage innovation to reduce environmental harms
Preparatory research for environmental start-ups grounded in robust research.
Phase 2
ARC Accelerator Phase 2: Accelerator for Shape Ventures
The first accelerator dedicated to building SHAPE ventures.
Phase 2
Artifical Intelligence in Arbitration: Ethical considerations
Ensuring the careful and ethically appropriate integration of AI technologies.
Phase 3
Artificial Intelligence in Arbitration: Ethical Considerations
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.
Phase 3
Aspect Angels
Aspect Angels is a first-of-its-kind network that builds pathways from ideas and research through to commercialisation via angel investment.
Phase 1
Aspect Research Commercialisation (ARC) Accelerator
Aspect’s accelerator programme for social science academics and researchers.
Phase 1
Aspect Student Accelerator Programme (ASAP)
Aspect’s social sciences student and alumni accelerator programme.
Phase 2
Aspect Translational Impact Acceleration Hub (TIAH) Phase 2
Generating frameworks for more efficient business-scaling support to academics.
Phase 3
Aspect Translational Impact Acceleration Hub (TIAH) Phase 3
As a result of the Phase 2 funding, the TIAH members developed a workable process, and an understanding of the the costs (in time and funding) required to deliver a comprehensive SHAPE commercialisation offer.
Phase 2
Bristol Impact Hub
Bringing Bristol’s professional services teams together to deliver support for SHAPE using a shared framework.
73 Testbed Projects | Page 1 of 5