AHRC
A Guide for the Commercialisation of Creative Industries Research
4:00pm UK time
Last verified:
The AHRC Guide for the Commercialisation of Creative Industries Research funds up to £250,000 to develop a sector-led toolkit for commercialising creative research in UK universities. The call requires consortia of universities, creative industries experts, and investors to co-design practical guidance modelled on USIT. This is a one-off call with a single 12-month project cycle.
Details
| Funder | AHRC |
| Budget | Up to £250,000 (100% FEC) |
| Deadline | 15 October 2026 |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Consortium | Required — lead research organisation plus partners with direct experience of translating creative industries research into commercial ventures and investors/investment-facing organisations |
| Application | Single stage |
| Frequency | One-off |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
Seeks a sector-led partnership to develop a CI-specific USIT-style commercialisation guide for UK universities. Lead organisation must be a UK research organisation registered on the UKRI Funding Service. Partners must include organisations with proven CI commercialisation experience and investors. Projects must start by 1 April 2027. In collaboration with Research England.
Who Should Apply
- •UK research organisations able to convene university partners and non-academic stakeholders
- •Lead applicants with existing networks in creative industries commercialisation
- •Consortia that include universities, creative industries practitioners, and investor representatives
- •Applicants prepared to coordinate in-kind contributions from multiple partners
Key Dates
- •Deadline 15 October 2026, 16:00 UK time
- •Single-stage application and assessment
- •12-month project, must start by 1 April 2027
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Lead with partnership depth, not just research credentials, the panel assesses your ability to bridge university and industry practice.
- ✓In-kind contributions from partners (not cash matched funding) signal genuine buy-in; itemise them clearly in the budget narrative.
- ✓Frame the output as a usable toolkit for university teams, not a research paper, AHRC wants practical guidance replicating the USIT model's reach and adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the budget for the AHRC Creative Industries Commercialisation Guide?
Up to £250,000 full economic cost (FEC). Matched funding from host institutions is not required, but in-kind contributions from consortium partners are expected.
Who must be on the consortium for this call?
The lead organisation must be a UK research organisation; the consortium must include universities, organisations with creative industries commercialisation expertise, and investor representatives.
When is the deadline for the Creative Industries Commercialisation Guide?
15 October 2026 at 16:00 UK time. Projects must start by 1 April 2027.
Is this call recurring?
No, this is a one-off call with a single application round. There is no indication of a repeat cycle.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
More from AHRC
AHRC Large Grants – Outline Stage
Deadline: 16 Sept 2026£1.6M–£2.4M AHRC contribution (80% of £2M–£3M FEC)Design Generators
Deadline: 29 Sept 2026£120k–£160k (80% of £150k–£200k FEC)Gambling Harms Research Grants
Deadline: 8 Dec 2026Design Generators Round Two
Creative Industries Clusters Round 2
Up to £6.75M per cluster (£27M total fund)
Browse Related
Could A Guide for the Commercialisation of Creative Industries Research be right for you?
See your personalised match score for this grant and others in 30 seconds. No signup needed to preview.
See my matches free →