LSE: ASPECT Enters a New Phase of Development
Co-founded by LSE, ASPECT is composed of 32 universities dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation in the social sciences, humanities, and arts (SHAPE disciplines). Its mission is to elevate research innovation across SHAPE subjects to deliver sustainable impact on the community, economy, and environment.
Since its 2018 launch, ASPECT has helped to transform the landscape of research innovation. Key achievements from the past five years include:
- Leveraging an additional £5.58 million of funding through Aspect-related activities.
- Facilitating 25 interdisciplinary collaborations within HEIs,
- Empowering 577 research academics from SHAPE disciplines to develop innovative ideas and cultivate new commercial skills through training and support events.
- Witnessing a significant expansion in the number of HEIs benefiting from the Aspect programme, growing from 25 in 2021 to 48 in 2023 with members from the UK and internationally.
Core Pillars
Building on these successes, Phase three will focus on Aspect’s core pillars:
Community: Strengthening connections and fostering collaboration among researchers, institutions, and corporate partners to facilitate knowledge exchange and collective growth.
Training: Providing tailored support and resources to equip academics and professional services staff with the skills and knowledge necessary to commercialise their research effectively.
Testbed: Creating an environment conducive to experimentation and innovation, where new ideas can be tested and refined to drive impactful outcomes for the economy and society.
Professor Julia Black, Chair of the ASPECT Steering Group and Strategic Director of Innovation at LSE said, “We are thrilled to embark on Phase three of our journey, as we continue to demonstrate the role of SHAPE research in fostering socially responsible, sustainable, and impactful innovations.”
LSE Vice President and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research), Professor Susana Mourato added, “ASPECT is leading the way for the commercialisation of SHAPE research, which will be vital as we tackle the biggest challenges facing our economy and society.
“We encourage all researchers, institutions and partners to join us on this exciting journey as we work together to shape the future of research and innovation in the social sciences, humanities, and arts.”