Businesses

KTPs bring together specialist academics, visionary business leaders and a graduate with the skills to drive change. Together they form a unique collaboration that delivers commercial impact. Your business will gain new knowledge, new capabilities and new ways of working.

You’ll gain access to the UK’s best experts and resources, giving your business a competitive edge. We will support you to develop a credible business case which underpins every project, giving you confidence in the return on investment.

Your business needs to be financially viable and committed to strategic change. A KTP aims to enhance your organisation’s capabilities and boost performance. If this sounds like the right fit for your business, make sure to confirm you’re eligible here.

A KTP provides:

• expert academic input and additional knowledge
• access to exceptional university resources, such as specialist equipment and facilities
• a dedicated team to deliver a strategic project
• support from an adviser at every stage
• shared development costs and reduced risk with your government co-funders
• wider support from links to Innovate UK
• a well-structured and managed innovation process

Develop strong, lasting partnerships with universities, research organisations and our dedicated advisers to solve a challenging business problem.

Innovate UK provides experts called Knowledge Transfer Advisers (KTAs) to help foster these relationships. Based in your region, they’ll offer extensive experience, independent advice and are committed to delivering success. KTAs will:

• provide expert guidance and advice to all parties on all aspects of open innovation
• assess eligibility, explore feasibility for your idea, stretch your ambition and guide you on the KTP mechanism and process
• support your partnership through the application process
• provide mentoring, coaching and professional development to the KTP graduate
• guide and advise the project team
• signpost your project to the wider innovate system, increasing visibility and support growth once the KTP has been completed.

If your grant application is approved, you will work in collaboration with the university or research organisation who will recruit a suitably qualified graduate to work on your project.

The academic team will commit half a day of their time, per week, to supervise and guide the KTP graduate. They will visit your business for monthly technical meetings, where you will jointly discuss project progress.

Your partnership will also meet with the adviser every four months for executive board level meetings, or “Local Management Committee” meetings.

A KTP is partly financed by Innovate UK. Depending on your region, it may be co-funded by other government support entities such as the devolved administrations.

The Knowledge Base can apply for a funding package to cover a proportion of total project costs through a competitive application process. The business will also need to commit to covering its share of the costs.

Costs are typically around £80,000-£100,000 per project year. The grant rate for small and medium-sized enterprises is 67% of the full cost. For large companies it is 50% and for third-sector organisations it is 75%.

Businesses of any size or sector can apply for a KTP providing they meet the eligibility criteria. This includes virtual UK-based organisations and third-sector businesses. Public sector organisations can only apply for Management KTPs.

Wondering if a KTP is right for you? Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need.

• approval and direction from senior management
• sufficient staff capabilities to both support delivery and learn and take on new skills
• willingness to build a long-term, multi-year working relationship
• a clear, focused business strategy that prioritises innovative growth
• a commitment to partnership, collaboration and talent development

Find more information about the KTP assessment process. Learn more about who can take part here.