Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Access Kent's academic knowledge, technology and skills with funding from Innovate UK.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships at Kent
Connecting businesses with experts
Empowering innovation
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are Innovate UK-funded projects through which highly-qualified graduates, supported by academic partners, help implement business solutions.
KTPs currently support around 800 businesses, 100 knowledge bases and over 850 graduates and between 2010-2020, generated over £2 billion for the UK economy.
Through the KTP scheme we can help you:
- bring new ideas to market
- make processes more efficient
- develop new products and services
- adopt new technology
- improve management practices
Partnerships with lasting impact
Why choose a KTP?
We're much stronger now technically as a result of our Knowledge Transfer Partnership.
Edward Jukes, General Manage and Technical Director for KROHNE
Improving traffic flow with the Port of Dover
"I'd really encourage any organisation to reach out to the University of Kent."
PORT OF DOVER
How does a KTP work?
Share your idea with us
If you have a strategic innovation project in mind, or a problem you would like to overcome, share it with our dedicated KTP team.
Connect with our experts
We will help you identify and connect with University of Kent academics with the expertise and skills to make your project happen.
Secure funding
We will cost the project and support you to apply for funding with guidance from a knowledgeable KTP Advisor from Innovate UK.
Recruit a recently qualified graduate
We'll work with you to recruit a recently qualified graduate who will deliver the KTP from within your company. They will have weekly catch ups with the academic team who will dedicate at least half a day a week to supporting the project.
Deliver the project
You will work closely with the Associate, academics and our Research and Innovation Support team to keep the project on track to achieve your strategic objectives over 12-36 months.
Evaluate your success
At the end of the project, we'll work with you to reflect on the success of the project and submit a report to Innovate UK for grading. This is an excellent opportunity to publicise what you've achieved and start thinking about your next project...
Success stories
FAQs
UK-based business of any size can take part in a KTP.
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.
Bodies not eligible for KTP funding include:
- all councils, organisations and businesses owned or operated either wholly or partially by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) or one of its councils
- Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA)
- central government departments and the devolved administrations
- non-departmental public bodies and arm’s length bodies (ALBs)
- NHS organisations
- local authorities, bodies owned and controlled by local authorities
- government owned companies, nationalised industries, most trading funds, regulators
Projects can be anywhere between 1 - 3 years and have a generous training budget provided as well as resources for consumables and expenses.
A dedicated graduate or postgraduate, known as an Associate, is employed by the university but located within the business and will work full time at your organisation. The Associate provides a valuable link between the business and academic teams to enable key expertise and knowledge to be transferred.
KTPs always include a highly experienced academic team who sit within the university providing key input and direction.
A KTP is part-funded by a grant. A typical KTP project delivers a package of support valued at around £110,000 to £120,000 per year. This includes the costs of:
- the academic team
- project consumables
- the associate’s salary
- mentoring, training & development
- travel & subsistence
- university resources required to support the project including access to facilities and administrative support
The proportion of the costs covered by KTP varies according to several factors. Typically, the grant rates are:
- 67% of project costs for micro, small and medium-sized businesses
- 50% of project costs for large businesses
Businesses will need to fund the remaining cost of the project but may be able to use R&D tax relief to recoup some of these costs.
KTPs cost on average £110k per year with SMEs contributing on average £36k pa and Large Organisations £55k pa.
Ready to talk?
Our experienced KTP team can help you explore whether the KTP scheme is right for your business.
