Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

What is a KTP?

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a UK government-funded programme that connects businesses with universities and research institutions to deliver strategic innovation projects. At its core, a KTP places a recently qualified research associate (often a graduate or postgraduate) into a business for a fixed period, supervised jointly by an academic team and the company's management.

The programme is designed to embed new skills, knowledge, and capability directly within businesses. The research associate works full-time on a defined innovation project -- typically developing a new product, process, or service -- while the academic partner provides specialist expertise and supervision. This three-way partnership ensures that cutting-edge research is translated into practical business outcomes, and that the knowledge stays within the company after the project ends.

How KTPs Work

A typical KTP runs for 12 to 36 months. The business identifies a strategic challenge that requires external expertise -- for example, implementing AI-driven analytics, developing a new software platform, or improving manufacturing processes. A university partner is selected based on their research strengths in the relevant area. Together, they recruit a research associate who becomes the primary delivery resource.

Funding covers the majority of the associate's salary and the academic supervision costs. SMEs contribute approximately one-third of the total project cost, while larger businesses contribute around half. Total project costs typically range from GBP 100,000 to GBP 300,000 over the partnership duration, making KTPs one of the most cost-effective ways for businesses to access world-class research expertise.

How Digital Tactics Helps

• KTP application support -- helping businesses define the innovation challenge, articulate the commercial opportunity, and structure a competitive application
• Academic partner identification -- connecting businesses with the right university departments and research groups based on the project's technical requirements
• Project supervision -- providing industry mentorship and technical guidance to research associates working on AI and software engineering projects
• Technical delivery support -- complementing KTP activity with additional software development, data engineering, or systems integration capability

Eligibility and Funding

KTPs are open to any UK-registered business that can demonstrate a strategic need for innovation. The programme is funded by Innovate UK and delivered in partnership with UK universities and research institutions. Applications are assessed on the quality of the innovation challenge, the suitability of the academic partner, and the potential for commercial impact. SMEs pay approximately 33% of costs; larger businesses pay around 50%.

Get Involved

If your business has a strategic innovation challenge that could benefit from academic expertise, a KTP may be the ideal route. Digital Tactics can help you scope the project, find the right university partner, and build a winning application. Contact us to explore whether a KTP is right for your organisation.