What is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership?
For almost 50 years, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) have been helping businesses and other organisations deliver innovation projects. They do this by addressing a specific challenge through the transfer of knowledge, technology and expertise from an academic partner.
In practice, partnerships take the form of a three-way collaboration between:
- The business/organisation
- A skilled graduate known as a KTP Associate (recruited and employed by University of Worcester to work within your organisation for a period of 12-36 months)
- University of Worcester academic experts who will mentor and support the KTP Associate
There are different types of KTPs that address specific needs:
- Classic KTPs are aimed at improving products, processes and services.
- Management KTPs work in the same way as classic KTPs, only the partnership is focused specifically on increasing effectiveness and improving results through better management practices, whether human-centred or technology-enabled.
Who can take part?
Organisations of any size and in any sector can apply for a KTP. These include:
- Not-for-profit organisations such as social enterprises
- Charities
- Eligible public sector organisations*, namely non-departmental public bodies, the NHS, local authorities (including bodies owned and controlled by local authorities), government-owned companies, nationalised industries, and most trading funds and regulators
*Note that public sector organisations can only apply for a Management KTP.
How will a KTP benefit me?
If you have a strategic innovation idea but do not have all the in-house expertise needed to develop it, KTPs are proven to be an ideal solution:
- Businesses can benefit from improved business processes and performance, helping them to become more competitive and productive.
- Third sector and charity organisations are supported to develop robust income streams through the improvement of products and services.
- Public sector organisations can increase effectiveness and improve results through better management practices.
The KTP Process
From scoping and planning through to applying for funding and recruiting a talented graduate, the University of Worcester will support you at every stage.
Planning: Tell us about the challenges you are facing or your ideas to drive innovation so that our academic experts can help shape a KTP project around your desired outcomes, supported and guided by an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Adviser.
Funding: Work with us to apply for funding from Innovate UK, who will fund a substantial part of the costs. For small and medium-sized enterprises the grant rate is 67% of the project cost, for large companies 50%, and for charity organisations the grant rate is 75% (the grant is awarded to the University to administer, therefore a KTP does not count as state aid and your business contribution towards the KTP may be eligible for R&D tax credits).
Recruitment: Together we will recruit your KTP Associate who will work within your organisation and manage the project.
Support: Our academic experts will mentor and guide your KTP Associate for the project lifespan, ensuring it delivers the agreed tangible benefits.