THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS LONDON

Their core work

University of the Arts London (UAL) is one of the world's largest specialist art and design universities, applying design-led research to sustainability challenges — particularly in textiles, fashion, and circular materials. In H2020 projects, they contribute design expertise to transform waste materials into high-value products, develop sustainable alternatives like fish skin leather, and create bio-based circular textiles. They also bridge arts and science through interdisciplinary research on AI in music and public engagement with biotechnology.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

UAL's early H2020 work (2015-2018) was split between design-led waste textile recycling (Trash-2-Cash) and an unexpected foray into molecular farming and pharmaceutical production (Pharma-Factory), likely contributing public engagement and science communication expertise. From 2019 onward, their focus consolidated firmly around circular economy and sustainable materials — fish skin fashion, bio-based textiles, microfibre pollution — while adding a new thread in critical AI and digital humanities studies. The trajectory shows a clear sharpening toward design-for-circularity as their signature research identity.

UAL is consolidating around circular textiles and bio-based fashion while opening a new front in critical AI studies — expect future proposals combining design thinking with both sustainability and digital transformation.

How they like to work

UAL operates exclusively as a participant, never coordinating projects, which suggests they join consortia to contribute specialized design and arts expertise rather than to lead large-scale research programmes. With 83 unique partners across 23 countries in just 6 projects, they work in large, diverse consortia — typical for Innovation Actions. This makes them an accessible and experienced consortium partner who integrates well into multidisciplinary teams without competing for the coordinator seat.

UAL has built a broad European network of 83 partners spanning 23 countries through just 6 projects, reflecting their participation in large Innovation Action consortia. Their reach is notably wide for their project count, suggesting strong integration into pan-European sustainability and creative industry networks.

What sets them apart

UAL's distinctive value lies at the intersection of design expertise and sustainability science — they don't just research circular materials, they apply design thinking to make sustainable products commercially viable and desirable. Very few universities can offer this combination of world-class fashion/textile design capability with hands-on experience in bio-based materials, circular economy processes, and waste valorisation. For any consortium needing to bridge the gap between laboratory materials research and real-world product adoption, UAL brings the design-driven approach that turns technical feasibility into market readiness.

Highlights from their portfolio

• T-Factor
  Largest single grant (EUR 883,562) — an urban transformation project where UAL applied culture and creativity strategies, showing their range beyond textiles.
• FISHSkin
  Highly distinctive topic — developing fish skin as sustainable fashion material combines UAL's design expertise with unconventional raw material innovation.
• HEREWEAR
  Most representative of UAL's current direction — bio-based circular textiles addressing microfibre pollution, design for circularity, and biorefinery integration.