Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) Programme
Since 1975, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) have been helping businesses and organisations innovate for growth. They are unique collaborative partnerships between businesses and universities, colleges, research organisations and Catapults. KTPs create positive impact and drive innovation.
Key features of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) are that:
- they are open to businesses or not-for-profit organisations, research organisations and graduates to work on an innovation project
- partnerships can last between 12 and 36 months
- funding is provided to support the total cost of the project – businesses provide around one-third to half of the project costs depending on their size
Who can apply?
A KTP is a partnership open to:
- a UK-based business of any size or a not-for-profit organisation
- a university, college or research and technology organisation including Catapults.
The programme calls for partnerships that help businesses to innovate, develop, grow and become more productive by employing academic expertise that they do not have in-house.
Your project can focus on any type of innovation in any sector but it must aim to deliver results that your business would not otherwise be able to deliver.
As a business, you may be looking for an academic partner to help you to address a particular innovation challenge.
Partnerships are part-funded by a grant. Your business will have to contribute to the costs of the project, including the salary of the graduate, known as the associate, and the cost of a supervisor to oversee the project.
The associate is employed by the academic partner but works in the business and brings new skills and thinking to deliver a specific innovation project. The project will last between 12 and 36 months.
Project costs vary greatly but typically a small or medium sized business might expect to contribute £35,000 a year and a large company in excess of £50,000. Your company may have additional costs such as purchasing capital equipment, which are not covered by this grant.
The KTP programme runs continuously throughout the year. For full information and to apply, please visit the UKRI website.