Business, university and graduate, working as one team
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: embed university expertise in your business
Award size
Part-funded: smaller businesses typically contribute around 33% of project costs
Duration
12-36 months
Timing
Rolling applications with monthly assessment panels
Who it's for: Businesses with a defined strategic challenge that needs applied academic expertise
What a KTP actually is
A KTP is a three-way partnership between your business, a university or research organisation, and a graduate associate who leads the project day to day. It suits businesses that know what they need to change but lack the in-house expertise or capacity to lead it.
Writing a strong KTP proposal
Reviewers assess the strategic significance of the challenge to your business, the quality of the academic knowledge base being transferred, and the project management plan. We help articulate the strategic case and select the right academic partner.
Intervention rates
Part-funding varies by company size: smaller businesses typically contribute around a third of costs, with larger businesses contributing more. We help you understand the real cost to your business before you commit.
What reviewers focus on
- Is the challenge strategically important to the business?
- Is the academic knowledge base relevant and high quality?
- Is the project achievable within the KTP timeframe?
- Will the business embed the capability after the KTP ends?
Where applications lose marks
- A vague strategic challenge with no measurable outcomes
- An academic partner chosen for convenience rather than fit
- No plan for what happens to the graduate or capability after the KTP
- Underestimating the management time a KTP genuinely requires
Frequently asked questions
How long does a KTP last?
KTPs typically run for 12 to 36 months, depending on the complexity of the project and the graduate associate's role.
How much does a KTP cost the business?
Smaller businesses typically contribute around a third of the total project cost, with Innovate UK and the research organisation covering the rest, though the exact split depends on company size and sector.
Do we need to have identified a university partner already?
Not necessarily. Many businesses come to us with the strategic challenge defined and we help identify a university with the right expertise.
Considering a Knowledge Transfer Partnership?
Book a free consultation and we'll help scope the strategic challenge and find the right academic partner.