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
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
Research Commercialisation Workshop & Toolkit Series
Developing good practice for social sciences commercialisation.
Phase 1
Research Fellowships in Zinc’s later life venture-builder programme
Adding five more years of high quality to later life.
Phase 1
Research funding prize for Zinc ventures
Unlocking new opportunities in places hard-hit by globalisation.
Phase 2
Seed Funding: POBL Communications e-learning platform
Developing a prototype e-learning platform.
SHAPE CEOs in the Aspect Network (SCAN)
This project is conducting a UK mapping exercise to identify CEOs within SHAPE ventures. It aims to create a database of CEOs who could lead SHAPE spinouts or mentor future leaders. This will address the challenge of finding executives passionate about SHAPE research to enhance commercialisation opportunities.
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 2
Shape Summer of Innovation: Shape showcase event and festival
Showcasing innovative and commercial projects within the arts, humanities the social sciences.
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 1
SHAPE Ventures Directory
The project is developing a centralised directory of SHAPE ventures to foster collaboration and innovation. This resource will provide insights, highlight commercialisation examples, and connect academics and industry professionals across Aspect member institutions.
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.
Phase 3
Social Venture Pathway
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.
Strengthening Games Development and Distribution
This project aims to support SHAPE academics in developing and distributing games by mapping their needs and existing university resources. It will create a resource for connecting with developers, publishers, and distributors, and organise an event to foster industry partnerships.
Phase 1
SUCCESS Programme
Seeding University Collaboration for Commercialisation and Enterprise in Social Sciences. The SUCCESS programme is a first-of-its-kind opportunity designed to help social scientists with innovative and marketable research ideas.
Phase 2
The Cambria Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurs
Increasing scholars’ capacity to commercialise their research interests through social enterprise models.
Phase 3
The SHAPE of things to come: Current and future Aspect impact
In the five years since it launched, the Aspect programme has achieved a remarkable amount. As it approaches the latest milestone in its evolution, and to support the introduction of a new funding model, this project set out to achieve three key aims.
Phase 2
Train the Trainer
Supporting professional service staff to communicate knowledge exchange and its impact for SHAPE.
Phase 3
Train the Trainer
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.
73 Testbed Projects | Page 4 of 5