The Future of Creative R+D in Universities

Over the past eight posts, we’ve explored what happens when creativity is treated not as decoration, but as the engine of research and development. From citizen science brewing to smart-city placemaking, youth-led innovation, and industry-embedded PhDs, one thing is clear:

• When creativity leads, research accelerates, communities engage, and innovation becomes tangible.

This is the story told by The Elephant’s Leg II: Creativity in Action — a book that doesn’t just describe projects, but documents a proof of concept for a different way of doing.

Universities talk about innovation. FASTlab showed what it looks like.

Most universities say they want to be innovative. But in practice, research often remains trapped in disciplinary silos, locked into slow cycles of grant funding, publication metrics, and institutional inertia.

FASTlab’s model, developed at the University of Newcastle and now operating independently, challenged that by:

• Embedding creativity as methodology, not embellishment.

• Using RAPID prototyping to cut development timelines from years to weeks.

• Bridging sectors — academia, industry, government, community — through transdisciplinary collaboration.

• Prioritising translation, not just publication.

  
  

The result was a body of work that delivered social, cultural, and commercial impact — locally, nationally, and internationally.

The challenge for the academy

If universities want to remain relevant in the next decade, they face a choice:

• Keep talking about innovation while relying on outdated structures.

• Or embrace creativity as a driver of research, education, and civic engagement.

  
  

This means rethinking metrics, funding models, and partnerships. It means treating creative industries not as “adjacent” but as central to how knowledge is produced and mobilised.

Why FASTlab cares

FASTlab’s journey continues — with industry partners, civic leaders, and international collaborators who are ready to act. But the bigger story is this:

• The future of R+D belongs to those who combine creativity with courage.

  
  

That’s the real legacy of The Elephant’s Leg II.

📖 Read The Elephant’s Leg II: Creativity in Action (Open Access): Download here