Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Guiding principles:

• the capability must be ‘embedded’ – so that it delivers profit beyond the life of the project 
• there must be a strategic need for knowledge transfer into the business 
• there must be a solid business case
• the Partnership must support business, the University and the Associate
• there must be clear additionality – i.e. an area of expertise that company does not have and cannot access easily elsewhere
• KTP is not placement, internship, consultancy or joint research - there are other schemes for these areas of support.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships bring many benefits for the Partners involved

• For the Associate - applied R&D and employment experience for the KTP Associate
• For the Company - financial support and dedicated resource and wider access to the University research base
• For the University knowledge base – application of knowledge and expertise to important business issues and highly relevant input to teaching and research themes 

Timescales, Funding and KTP Project Management

Classic KTPs run for 12 – 36 months and aim to address long-term, strategic business issues.

KTPs are part-funded by the Technology Strategy Board and other funding organisations. The full cost is £75k - £90k per annum and for successful applications there is 67% support for SMEs or 50% for larger companies. The company contribution is eligible for R&D Tax Credits.

• The Associate is employed by the University but works full time on the company premises
• The Academic supervisor spends 0.5 days per week at the company
• The Associate manages the project against an agreed project plan 
• The Company supervises the Associate as per a normal employee.