Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2022 to 2023, Round 3

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme allows a UK registered business or not for profit organisation (which we will refer to collectively as the ‘business partner’ from now on) to partner with a knowledge base partner’ (either a UK higher education (HE) or further education (FE) institution, research and technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult).

The KTP partnership brings new skills and the latest academic thinking into the business partner to deliver a specific, strategic innovation project. The knowledge base partner recruits the ‘associate’ to work on the project. The associate has the opportunity to lead a strategic development within the business developing new skills and gaining valuable experience.

Each application must be led by a knowledge base, working with a business partner and supported by a knowledge transfer adviser. If you are a business and do not yet have a relationship with a knowledge base partner, the knowledge transfer adviser can help you to identify one – click here to find the KTA for your area.

KTPs run throughout the year – closing dates for the remainder of 2022/23 can be found here.

Eligibility

Each KTP is a partnership between a UK knowledge base, which acts as lead organisation and submitting the application, and a UK registered business or not for profit organisation.

(The definition KTP uses for ‘not for profit organisation’ includes social enterprises and charities. KTP does not support projects where the business partner is in the public sector.)

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, and be registered as a knowledge base with the KTP programme.

To collaborate with the knowledge base, the business partner must be a UK registered business or a not for profit organisation of any size, and must have 2 or more full time equivalent employees.

Successful applications are partially funded on the following basis:

• large companies may receive a grant contribution of up to 50% of eligible project costs, subject to a cap, with the business paying the balance
• SMEs may receive a grant contribution up to 67% of eligible project costs, subject to a cap, with the business paying the balance

Each knowledge base can collaborate with any number of business partners. Each business partner (including separate businesses within a business group) can only take part in up to 4 concurrent KTP funded projects.

Your application must be for a specific, strategic innovation project that tackles one or more challenges faced by the business partner.

It can be any kind of project and must show:

• how it helps the business with a real need
• how it fits the strategic aims of the business partner
• a genuine market opportunity and a viable route to market
• how the knowledge gained will be embedded within the business partner
• what makes your project innovative

To visit the KTP site and find out more, click here.