The Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) scheme allows a UK Knowledge Base to work with a UK registered business (which we will refer to as the ‘Business Partner’ from now on), to deliver a short, rapid and targeted intervention. The Knowledge Base partner should be either a UK higher education (HE) or further education (FE) institution, research and technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult.
This intervention will accelerate the evaluation or development of an innovation project or concept, with the potential for a significant impact for the Business Partner. Projects can be open in scope but you must first consider how it will align with the Industrial Strategy’s six prioritised sectors by Innovate UK. These are:
- Advanced Manufacturing (including agri-tech)
- Clean Energy Industries
- Creative Industries
- Defence
- Digital and Technologies
- Life Sciences
Digital and Technologies includes Artificial Intelligence, Engineering Biology, Advanced Connectivity Technologies, Quantum Technologies, Semiconductors, and Cyber Security. See the scope and subsectors sections below for full details.
If your project does not align with one of the six priority sectors, it may still be eligible if it is exploiting a novel area of research and the Business Partner meets the criteria for a high growth potential.
Priority will be given to projects that align with the Industrial Strategy.
Each Innovate UK AKT project will establish a new partnership or consolidate an existing collaboration between the Knowledge Base and the Business Partner through knowledge exchange activity.
The application must be submitted by the Knowledge Base partner, but will be developed in partnership with the Business Partner. The Knowledge Base will be the sole grant recipient.
If you are a business and do not yet have a relationship with a Knowledge Base partner, contact your local Knowledge Base to discuss this opportunity in more detail.Each application must be led by a Knowledge Base, working with a Business Partner.
Visit the AKT website to find out more about the scheme.
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Each Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) is a partnership between the following:
- a UK Knowledge Base, acting as lead organisation and submitting the application
- a UK registered business with four or more full time employees
The following organisations are specifically excluded:
- UKRI organisations and businesses owned or operated either wholly or partially by UKRI or one of its councils
- Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA)
- central government departments and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- charitable and third sector organisations
The Knowledge Base partner must lead the project and must:
- be a UK registered higher education (HE) or further education (FE) institution, research technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult
- be eligible to register to participate in the KTP programme, but does not have to be registered with KTP
- invite one UK registered business into the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) application
- invite the AKT Monitoring Officer to support the application
- not have ownership of 50% or more of the Business Partner or a controlling interest via a shareholder agreement
- ensure that none of the proposed academic team are directors, consultants or otherwise engaged by the business or group
Any organisation eligible to become a KTP Knowledge Base may not apply into AKT as a Business Partner.
To collaborate with a Knowledge Base, the Business Partner must:
- be a UK registered business and have four or more full time equivalent employees
UK subsidiary businesses of overseas parent companies are eligible, provided they are individually registered in the UK.
Where a business is not registered at Companies House the business must provide evidence of the legal status and ownership of the business.
Each Knowledge Base can collaborate with any number of Business Partners.
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A project’s total eligible grant costs are £35,000. Projects must be for a duration of 3 months only.
The Knowledge Base must:
- recruit Associate roles in a demonstrably fair manner
- recruit an Associate of either 0.5 or 1 FTE
- agree to provide at least 0.25 day per week of academic support for the Associate
The Business Partner must be able to host the Associate and provide them with supervisory support.
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Your application must be for a specific, strategic innovation project that tackles one or more challenges faced by the Business Partner. Projects can be open in scope but you must first consider how it will align with the Industrial Strategy’s six prioritised sectors by Innovate UK. These are:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Clean Energy Industries
- Creative Industries
- Defence
- Digital and Technologies
- Life Sciences
See below for a breakdown of each sector.
If your project does not align with one of the six priority sectors, it may still be eligible if it is exploiting a novel area of research and the Business Partner meets the criteria for high growth potential. Priority will be given to projects that align with the Industrial strategy.
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A full breakdown of the subsectors in each prioritised sector is given below. If you are unsure as to whether your project aligns with one of these, contact the AKT competition team on akt@iukbc.org.uk, prior to submission.
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Aerospace
- Advanced Materials
- Agri-tech
- Automotive
- Batteries
- Space
- Clean Energy Industries
- Wind (Onshore, Offshore and Floating Offshore)
- Fusion Energy
- Nuclear Fission
- Hydrogen
- Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS), including Greenhouse Gas removals
- Heat Pumps
- Creative Industries
- Advertising and Marketing
- Film and TV
- Video Games
- Music, Performing and Visual Arts
- Defence
- Drones and Autonomous Systems
- Combat Air
- Directed energy weapons
- Complex weapons
- Maritime capabilities
- Digital and Technologies
- Artificial intelligence
- Engineering Biology
- Advanced Connectivity Technologies
- Quantum Technologies
- Semiconductors
- Cyber Security
- Life Sciences
- Pharmaceuticals
- Medical Technologies (MedTech)
- Advanced Manufacturing
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Innovate UK Business Connect will hold an applicant briefing event at 2pm on Tuesday 19 May: click here to register for a place. A recording and slides will be available afterwards.
If you are a business and do not yet have a relationship with a Knowledge Base partner, contact your local Knowledge Base to discuss this opportunity in more detail.
If you have any questions regarding the rules of this competition, you should contact the AKT competition team on akt@iukbc.org.uk, prior to submission.
Innovate UK's application and funding process
If you need more information about how to apply, please read our funding support pages. For additional support, reach out to our team of innovation experts who are ready to help you navigate the application process and maximise your chances of success.
For more information
Accessibility and Inclusion
Innovate UK welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.