KTP Awards

2026 Award Finalists

The Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Awards celebrate the partnerships, individuals and organisations driving innovation through collaboration. This year’s finalists have demonstrated outstanding achievement, impact and excellence across the KTP community.

Outstanding KTP Impact Award

• Ulster University and Axial3D Ltd
• University of Huddersfield and Kibabii University and Carbon Footprint Ltd
• University of Strathclyde and Test Incorporated Ltd (Test Inc.)

Innovation & Technical Excellence Award

• Cranfield University and Richmond Defence Systems Limited
• Glasgow Caledonian University and TNEI Services Ltd
• University of Strathclyde and Test Incorporated Ltd (Test Inc.)

Business Growth & Transformation through KTP

• Birmingham City University and Renato Software Limited
• Leeds Beckett University and Sniffers Pet Care Limited
• University of Strathclyde and Test Incorporated Ltd (Test Inc.)

Emerging Innovation Leader (KTP) Award

• Dr Athanasios Koulis – University of the West of Scotland and RoukenBio (formerly Antibody Analytics)
• David Odaudu – Manchester Metropolitan University and Manufax Engineering Limited
• James King – Leeds Beckett University and Sniffers Pet Care Limited
• Dr Saan Voss – University of Cambridge and Bicycle Therapeutics
• Samuel Ojuri – Teesside University and TaperedPlus Limited

Academic Excellence in Innovation (KTP) Award

• Professor Ben Clegg – Aston University and Protaform Springs & Pressings Ltd
• Dr Sebastien Farnaud – Coventry University and SE Recycling Ltd
• Dr Weizhou Wang – Manchester Metropolitan University and KROHNE Ltd

Excellence in Knowledge Exchange Support (KTP) Award

• Aston University
• Teesside University
• University of Leeds

Place-Based Innovation Impact Award

• University of Cape Coast and Aston University and Tropical Starch Company Limited
• University of Essex and Pursuing Independent Paths (PiP)
• University College of Estate Management and Kings Foundation

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.