Research England Development funding secured for Innovative Spinout Pilot
Oxford Brookes University is proud to be collaborating with several UK universities on a new Innovative Spinout Pilot supporting creative and social ventures.
The pilot is led by University of the Arts London (UAL) who have just been awarded £415,980 in funding from the Research England Development (RED) fund’s Connecting Capability Fund (CCF), as the lead institution of a new consortium. This funding supports the ‘Shared Technology Transfer Office to Accelerate the Growth of Self-Funded Spinouts (STAGE)’ pilot, which aims to accelerate the development of self-funded spinouts in the creative and social sciences sectors, particularly focusing on universities that lack infrastructure for early-stage spinout development.
Led by Dr Gavin Clark, Director of Enterprise & Commercialisation at UAL, the initiative is a collaboration between UAL and cofounding university partner Lancaster University, alongside the University of Warwick, University of the West of England, University of Birmingham and Oxford Brookes University. Supported by a pool of sector specialists led by Mark Mann Ltd and Kindling Ventures Ltd, the STAGE pilot will focus on supporting smaller universities and institutions in commercialising spinouts, especially those emerging from SHAPE disciplines (Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts for People and the Economy) and social ventures from all research areas. This initiative is designed to provide a robust framework for bringing creative ideas and research to market, offering new commercialisation opportunities, particularly in fields that have historically faced challenges in accessing traditional spinout support.
Dr Syahirah Abdul Rahman, Senior Lecturer in Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Early Career Researcher Co-Investigator of Innovation & Research Caucus at Oxford Brookes Business School is part of the project and brings her wealth of experience collaborating with the ESRC on reviewing the landscape of commercialisation of SHAPE research in the UK since 2020. Her expertise will be key in evaluating the progress of the STAGE pilot and to draw out key lessons and insights.
Professor Nick Wilton, Dean of Oxford Brookes Business School, said “This important and timely project to support institutions to unlock the commercial potential of the SHAPE disciplines exemplifies two of our strategic priorities at Oxford Brookes Business School: the pursuit of applied research that makes a difference to individuals, organisations and wider society, and driving change through engaging and collaborating with external partners”.
Professor Tim Vorley, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor of Industry, Enterprise and Innovation/Faculty Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences added “"The SHAPE disciplines - Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts - are the bedrock of our cultural and societal understanding, yet their economic and social impact is often underestimated. This groundbreaking project illuminates a new path for translating SHAPE research into tangible, real-world solutions. Dr Abdul Rahman's participation in this project amplifies the strengths that we have in the faculty in uncovering the transformative power of SHAPE disciplines in addressing complex global challenges."
The STAGE pilot is designed around three core components that will form the basis of a shared technology transfer office, providing a scalable solution for universities with fewer spinouts. Key components of the pilot include a flexible virtual business unit that allows ventures to trade before formal incorporation, specialised business mentoring and support, and the collection of insight-driven data on commercialisation costs aimed at improving the funding landscape for SHAPE-driven ventures. The pilot will run across multiple universities and regions, with the goal of gathering valuable insights by Spring 2025.
Learn more about the projects funded by the Research England development fund.