Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Overview and Guidance

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are a great way for businesses and organizations to tap into the expertise of universities and research institutions. This collaborative approach can bring significant benefits to both parties.

A KTP can be initiated by a business or organization, which then partners with a university to bring in a graduate or postgraduate to work on a specific project. The graduate or postgraduate is known as a Knowledge Transfer Associate (KTA).

KTAs work on projects that are closely aligned with the business's goals and objectives, and are typically employed by the business for a fixed period, usually 2-3 years.

The KTP funding model is designed to support the employment of a KTA, as well as a proportion of the business's costs.

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Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are unique collaborative partnerships between businesses and universities, colleges, research organisations, and Catapults that have been helping businesses innovate for growth since 1975.

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These partnerships are formed between a company and a university, with funding from Innovate UK, to address a specific challenge and enable the transfer of knowledge, technology, and expertise.

A KTP partnership is centred on a project that is of strategic importance to the company, and involves a graduate known as a KTP associate to facilitate the transfer of skills and expertise.

The associate is employed by the university but works at the company for the majority of the project, typically for 12-36 months.

There are different types of KTPs, each addressing a specific need, including classic KTPs, management KTPs, third sector and charity KTPs, and public sector management KTPs.

Each KTP addresses a specific challenge and enables the transfer of knowledge, technology, and expertise from the academic partner to the business or organisation.

The KTP associate works with the business to implement innovative solutions to identified business challenges, using the knowledge and expertise gained through their academic training.

The academic partner provides support and guidance to the KTP associate throughout the project.

The business benefits from the transfer of knowledge and expertise, as well as access to new technologies, specialist facilities and technical expertise.

KTPs have been shown to be highly effective in driving innovation and growth, generating over £2 billion for the UK economy between 2010-2020.

The average annual project cost is approximately £80,000, which includes the associate's salary, a travel budget, personal development budget, academic input and expertise, and administrative support.

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A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is made up of three key partners: a company, a knowledge base, and an associate. The associate is a recently qualified graduate who plays a crucial role in the partnership.

The company can be a private enterprise, public body, or voluntary agency. The knowledge base, on the other hand, is typically a university or other higher education institution, research organisation, or further education college.

Here's a breakdown of the funding available for KTPs:

The remaining project costs are covered by the business, which can vary depending on the sector.

A key aspect of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is its structure, which involves three essential partners.

Each KTP has a company, which can be a private enterprise, public body, or voluntary agency.

The knowledge base is typically a university or other higher education institution, research organisation, or further education college.

An associate is a recently qualified graduate who plays a crucial role in the partnership.

Here's a breakdown of the partners involved in a KTP:

KTPs are part-funded by a grant from Innovate UK, the UK government's innovation agency, and other government co-funders. This funding helps cover a significant portion of the project costs.

The remaining contribution of the project costs comes from the business itself, which can vary depending on the type of business. For small and medium-sized businesses, 67% of the project cost is grant-funded.

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To be eligible for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership, you need to be a UK-based business or organisation with two or more full-time equivalent employees. This includes not-for-profit organisations like social enterprises, charities, and some public sector organisations.

To get started, you'll need to partner with a Knowledge Base, which can take six to eight weeks to develop. This is a crucial step in the process.

Check the current list of opening and closing dates for competitive calls, but be aware that all dates are subject to change.

Here are the types of organisations that are eligible for a KTP:

If you're a qualified graduate, you'll need to have the capability to lead a strategic business project to be eligible for a KTP.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) offer a wealth of benefits for businesses, universities, and graduates alike. By forming long-term partnerships, businesses can access research expertise and graduate talent, embedding knowledge and research for long-term benefit.

Universities, research organisations, and catapults can apply research to real-world challenges, contributing to research impact and opening up commercial possibilities. This can also lead to additional funding and a chance to tap into the wealth of talent and innovative thinking within their Knowledge Base.

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Graduates can accelerate their careers and put themselves at the heart of their chosen specialty through KTPs. The programme is designed to facilitate relationships between businesses and institutions, matching the right partners to work together and maximise benefits.

KTPs have generated over £2 billion for the UK economy from 2010-2020, and currently support around 800 businesses, 100 knowledge bases, and over 850 graduates. This is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation.

Here are some of the benefits for companies that participate in KTPs:

By collaborating through KTPs, businesses can drive innovation, increase profitability, and improve their performance and operations. This is why thousands of businesses across the UK use KTPs to effect dramatic positive change.

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You can search and apply for vacancies on the KTP website, which offers generous travel and personal development budgets, as well as additional training in business and project management.

The KTP website lists various vacancies, but the article doesn't specify the exact job titles or descriptions.

To stay on top of the application process, note the closing dates for KTP rounds in 2025-26:

There are two specific job openings mentioned, both for Knowledge Transfer Adviser roles in different regions.

If you're planning to apply for a KTP, it's essential to keep an eye on the closing dates for each round.

The closing dates for KTP rounds in 2025-26 are as follows: Round 3 is on 17 September 2025, Round 4 is on 26 November 2025, and Round 5 is on 28 January 2026.

To apply for a KTP, you'll need to develop a partnership with a Knowledge Base, which can take around six to eight weeks.

You can check the current list of opening and closing dates, but be aware that they're subject to change.

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If you're interested in a KTP associate role, you can search for vacancies on the KTP website.

Suitably qualified graduates or those with equivalent experience can apply.

Associates receive generous travel and personal development budgets.

In Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, the focus is on transferring technology and knowledge from universities to businesses and organizations. This involves sharing knowledge areas that may not necessarily be cutting-edge technology.

Successful applications will involve the transfer of appropriate technology and/or knowledge areas, which are not all necessarily leading edge technology.

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