Commercialising Social Science Research: Insights from the University of Cambridge on key barriers, enablers and pathways to success

Abstract

This report explores the nature and variety of efforts undertaken by social scientists at the University of Cambridge to commercialise their research. Specifically, the journeys they navigate, the nature of barriers and enablers that arise whilst progressing their commercialisation projects, and how the process could be made more effective and efficient. Leveraging insights from an analysis of an internal database of 127 commercialisation projects and in-depth interviews with participants from 12 cases on these topics, we propose a prototype tool that has the potential to assess progress of social science research commercialisation projects and identify where greater support may be needed.