The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), working in partnership with Research England, has opened a new funding opportunity aimed at transforming how universities support the commercialisation of Creative Industries (CI) research. Institutions with strong track records in CI knowledge exchange and commercialisation may want to take note; this could be a significant opportunity to shape sector-wide practice.
What the opportunity is about
The call invites a university-led team to work collaboratively with investors, lawyers and founders to tackle early-stage barriers to commercialisation in the creative industries, and to develop a new, sector-specific commercialisation guide.
The guide is intended to complement the existing University Spin-out Investment Terms (USIT) guides, which have established best practice for deal-making between universities, founders and investors — but have so far focused primarily on life sciences, deep tech and software. This new guide will address the distinct characteristics of Creative Industries ventures, recognising that spin-outs are just one of several routes through which CI research reaches the market.
The UK government has identified the creative industries as one of eight high-growth sectors in its Industrial Strategy, and this opportunity is designed to strengthen the contribution of university-derived CI ventures to the wider economy.
Funding and timeline
Total funding available: up to £250,000 (AHRC will fund 100% of the full economic cost)
Project duration: 12 months, with a start date no later than 1 April 2027
Opened: 30 July 2026
Closes: 15 October 2026, 4:00 pm UK time
Eligible costs include travel and subsistence, workshop and consultation delivery, and staff time for professional services or project management associated with producing the guide. Notably, AHRC expects the core sector expertise, from investors, founders and senior CI leaders, to be contributed largely in-kind, reflecting the sector-led, co-owned nature of the project.
Why this matters for the enterprise education community
For institutions active in enterprise and entrepreneurship education, this funding call offers a chance to directly influence how Creative Industries research is commercialised across the UK higher education sector, and to help build a practical framework that could shape practice for years to come.
How to apply
Applications are submitted via the UKRI Funding Service (not Je-S). Only the lead research organisation can submit, though all team members and partners are expected to contribute to the application.
Full eligibility criteria, assessment details and guidance on how to apply are available on the UKRI funding opportunity page.
Applications close 15 October 2026 at 4:00 pm UK time.
