Knowledge Transfer Partnerships or KTPs are a research partnership between a UK-owned business or not for profit organisation, a recent graduate and expert(s) from a university.
They help businesses develop an idea where they do not have all the in-house expertise needed to develop it further themselves. It creates a dynamic three-way collaboration to help realise a strategic innovation project, bring about transformative change and embed new capability for the business.
The funding allows a business to take on a new member of staff to work on a specific project or challenge, with support from an academic with relevant expertise. The project needs to have a clear economic impact on the business, for example by opening up new revenue streams or saving substantial operating costs by improving processes.
KTPs are awarded by Innovate UK and the applications are supported by a regional advisor. This guided application process means that success rates in applying for KTPs are generally a lot higher than normal research funding. It also means we have a very clear understanding of what makes a successful application and can use this insight to support you in the application process.
Benefits to the university include:
- Business relevant teaching and research, and the ability to apply knowledge and expertise to real-world problems.
- Creating research projects and research papers: On average 3 new research projects and 2 research papers are created for each project as a result of a KTP.
- Source of valuable research income.
- Identifying new research themes and contributing to the Research Excellence Framework (REF).
- Leading a rewarding and ongoing collaboration with innovative companies requiring research-based expertise to succeed.
- Publishing high quality journals and conference papers.
The first step to pursuing a KTP application is completing a KTP fact-finding form This captures a range of information about you, the company you would like to work with and the project idea. This information will then be passed to the regional advisor who will advise whether the application can proceed.
If you have a business in mind but have not raised the idea of a KTP with them download our factsheet, KTPs Business Benefits to help you start a discussion around your project idea and how it could benefit them.
Get in touch with the Key Sector and Knowledge Exchange Manager to help start the process and filling in the KTP fact find form.