Up to £250,000 to Commercialise Creative Industries Research – AHRC

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) is offering up to £250,000 for a university-led team to transform how creative industries research is commercialised in the UK. Unlike a typical innovation grant funding lots of individual businesses, one award is available to develop a sector-wide commercialisation guide and framework for universities, founders and investors.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Up to £250,000 in grant funding

• £250,000 total fund, meaning one project is expected to receive the award

• AHRC will fund 100% of the project's full economic cost

• No institutional match funding required

• Funding period of 12 months

• Funding for staff/project-management time involved in producing the guide

• Costs for workshops, roundtables and sector consultations

• Travel and subsistence related to project activity

• Development and dissemination of a new creative industries commercialisation guide

• The resulting framework should cover areas such as founder equity, licensing, university processes, investment and spin-out readiness.

Who can apply?

The project must be university/research-organisation led, rather than a startup applying independently. The partnership needs strong expertise in commercialising creative-industries research and should bring together universities alongside organisations experienced in translating research into commercial ventures and investors or investment-facing organisations. Applicants need to demonstrate the ability to convene stakeholders across the UK creative industries ecosystem.

Deadline: 15 October 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.