In March 2014, the University of Surrey launched the International Guitar Research Centre (IGRC). The research centre aims to provide an international hub for guitar-centred research in all styles of music.  

The IGRC has formed strategic partnerships with the International Guitar Foundation, The Guitar Foundation of America, The International Guitar Research Archive (CSUN, CA), The Altamira Foundation (China), and 21^st Century Guitar (Canada). We have co-hosted conferences and festivals with these partners in the USA, Hong Kong, China, Canada, Portugal, Germany, the UK, and Australia.  

The centre is run by Professor Steve Goss, Dr Milton Mermikides, and Dr John McGrath, and the Honorary President is John Williams. The centre currently has 17 postgraduate researchers, and recent PhD graduates include Jonathan Leathwood, Marek Pasieczny, Jake Willson, and Kate Lewis. In 2016 the IGRC opened the Maurice J Summerfield Collection which is now part of the University Archives & Special Collections.