Knowledge Transfer

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Partnering with a university, college or research organisation to bring knowledge and expertise into your business – “Probably, Europe’s most successful Knowledge Transfer Programme”.

What is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership?

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (external link) (KTP) is  UK-wide programme enabling businesses to improve their competitiveness, productivity and performance.

A KTP achieves this through the forming of a Partnership between your business and an academic institution (such as university, further education college or research and technology organisation), enabling you to access skills and expertise to help your business develop.

The knowledge sought is embedded into the business from the knowledge base through a project, or projects, undertaken by a recently qualified person (known as the Associate), recruited to specifically work on that project.

KTPs can vary in length from 1 to 3 years (classic KTP) and from 10-40 weeks (shorter KTP), depending on the needs of the business and the desired outcomes.

A KTP enables new capability to be embedded into the business and has benefited and continues to benefit a wide range of businesses across many sectors, including micro sized, small and large businesses, third sector organisations or public organisations.

The Government will fund part of the cost of working with a university, college or research organisation that has expertise relevant to your business that could increase your profitability.

The current cost to companies for a KTP is £20K per year (small company) or £30K per year (large company).

Discussions would need to take place with the leading University to finalise these costings.

What can KTP offer your business?

By participating in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships you can:

  • access qualified people to spearhead new projects
  • access experts who can help take your business forward
  • develop innovative solutions to help your business grow
  • develop your business for today’s market
  • increase your competitive advantage
  • improve your performance/business operations
  • increase profitability

Business performance outputs vary considerably from case to case, given the variety and type of projects.

Latest information shows that, on average, the business benefits that can be expected from a single KTP project (typical duration 1-3 years) are:

  • an increase of over £220,000 in annual profits before tax
  • the creation of three genuine new jobs
  • an increase in skills of existing staff