What is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership?

For almost 50 years, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) have been helping businesses and other organisations deliver innovation projects. They do this by addressing a specific challenge through the transfer of knowledge, technology and expertise from an academic partner.

In practice, partnerships take the form of a three-way collaboration between:

Two business students working together on laptops
  • The business/organisation
  • A skilled graduate known as a KTP Associate (recruited and employed by ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ to work within your organisation for a period of 12-36 months)
  • ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ academic experts who will mentor and support the KTP Associate

There are different types of KTPs that address specific needs:

  • Classic KTPs are aimed at improving products, processes and services.
  • Management KTPs work in the same way as classic KTPs, only the partnership is focused specifically on increasing effectiveness and improving results through better management practices, whether human-centred or technology-enabled.

Who can take part?

Organisations of any size and in any sector can apply for a KTP. These include:

  • Not-for-profit organisations such as social enterprises
  • Charities
  • Eligible public sector organisations*, namely non-departmental public bodies, the NHS, local authorities (including bodies owned and controlled by local authorities), government-owned companies, nationalised industries, and most trading funds and regulators

*Note that public sector organisations can only apply for a Management KTP.

 

How will a KTP benefit me?

If you have a strategic innovation idea but do not have all the in-house expertise needed to develop it, KTPs are proven to be an ideal solution:

  • Businesses can benefit from improved business processes and performance, helping them to become more competitive and productive.
  • Third sector and charity organisations are supported to develop robust income streams through the improvement of products and services.
  • Public sector organisations can increase effectiveness and improve results through better management practices.

The KTP Process

From scoping and planning through to applying for funding and recruiting a talented graduate, the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ will support you at every stage.

A student is holding a pipette full of red liquid

 

Planning: Tell us about the challenges you are facing or your ideas to drive innovation so that our academic experts can help shape a KTP project around your desired outcomes, supported and guided by an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Adviser.

Funding: Work with us to apply for funding from Innovate UK, who will fund a substantial part of the costs. For small and medium-sized enterprises the grant rate is 67% of the project cost, for large companies 50%, and for charity organisations the grant rate is 75% (the grant is awarded to the University to administer, therefore a KTP does not count as state aid and your business contribution towards the KTP may be eligible for R&D tax credits).

Recruitment: Together we will recruit your KTP Associate who will work within your organisation and manage the project.

Support: Our academic experts will mentor and guide your KTP Associate for the project lifespan, ensuring it delivers the agreed tangible benefits.