KTP Awards

The KTP Awards 2026 are now open!

The 2026 Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Awards are now officially open! Please click here to submit your application and start your journey towards the 2026 KTP Awards.

Applications can be received no later than Wednesday, 19 August 2026. They will be reviewed by our internal KTP Awards Assessors and in a second round by our expert Judging Panel – we will reveal the finalists on Friday, 2 October 2026.

Still not sure on how to apply?

Please join us on Thursday, 25 June 2026 at 11am for the KTP Awards 2026 webinar briefing to gather all the necessary information. Register here.

Every year we receive hundreds of applications showcasing amazing projects that have flourished under the Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership Programme, and we are looking forward to receiving your applications and reading about your success.

The 2026 KTP Awards Ceremony will be held in Glasgow on 1 December and all finalists will be invited to attend.

Watch the highlights video from the 2025 Awards to learn more.

2025 Award Winners

This year’s winners represent the very best of KTP collaboration – transforming ideas into measurable outcomes for business, academia and society.

African Agriculture KTP Award

Taro-Agric Consulting, Obafemi Awolowo University and University of the West of England

Best KTP Award

Yeo Valley Farms (Production) Ltd and University of Reading

Changing the World Award

Dunsters Farm Limited and Manchester Metropolitan University

KTP Academic of the Year

TNEI Services Limited – Glasgow Caledonian University

Future Leader Award

• Usama Jamil – Ashtead Engineering Company Ltd / Kingston University
• Dr Simeon Skopalik – Soapworks Ltd / University of Glasgow
• Ray Holder – Smartify Holdings Limited / University of the West of Scotland
• Shay McEvoy – AB Pneumatics Ltd / Queen’s University Belfast
• Charlotte-Rose Kennedy – Renato Software Ltd / Birmingham City University

Best Knowledge Base KTP Support Team

The University of Essex

Technical Excellence Award

Soapworks Ltd – University of Glasgow

Business Transformation Award

Detoxpeople Ltd – Anglia Ruskin University

Golden KTP Awards

2025 also introduced the Golden KTP Awards – a special recognition of projects and individuals whose lasting contributions have shaped innovation practice and collaboration over the past five decades.

Here are the winners from each category:

Knowledge with Impact

Navico Group – Queen’s University Belfast

Driving Innovation for the Future

Arup – The University of Manchester

The Art of Successful Collaboration (Partnerships)

Aquacheck Engineering – Manchester Metropolitan University

The Art of Successful Collaboration (Practitioners)

Queen’s University Belfast

After more than 14,000 partnerships and £2.3 billion in value creation, KTP continues to be a cornerstone of the UK’s innovation ecosystem – connecting business ambition with academic expertise to drive productivity, resilience and sustainable growth.