Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) is a well-established programme which helps organisations improve their competitiveness, productivity, performance and profitability by tapping into the knowledge, skills and expertise in UK universities.
Each KTP is a three-way partnership between a business, a university and a graduate, with grants available to cover investment in innovation.
KTP enables Higher Education Institutions to apply their wealth of knowledge and expertise to important business problems, facilitate collaborations that lead to measurable research impact, and provide an employment opportunity for high-calibre graduates.
KTP is classed as research related income. Partnerships are funded through the business partner and government. The level of funding contributed by the business will depend on its size.
Investment in KTP varies but is typically around £90,000pa with grants available of up to 67 per cent for small companies or 50 per cent for larger organisations.
In 2019, Innovate UK introduced a new programme, Management Knowledge Transfer Partnership (MKTP), which will operate in the same way as KTPs but with the focus specifically on management-based projects to increase business effectiveness and productivity.
MKTPs seek to support strategic management projects across core activities including:
- Monitoring and target setting
- Communication and motivation
- Organisation, resource planning and strategic thinking
- Problem-solving and decision making
- Commercial awareness and risk management
- Coaching and mentoring
- Options evaluations, horizon scanning and foresighting
Who could benefit from a MKTP?
- Growth-oriented SMEs, eager to build and execute their ambitious management strategy by introducing better management practices.
- Businesses seeking significant productivity gains, recognising that good management and leadership can help deliver this.
- Organisations looking to up-skill their people and make step-change improvements in productivity by deploying industry-leading practices and innovation processes.
See the recording of a national mKTP Webinar from July 2020 (fundamentals of mKTPs from 12 minutes 30)
Download a copy of the MKTP-Business-Flyer-Nov_2020 (PDF, 2,322kb)
KTP is collectively one of the UK’s largest graduate employers, with jobs available throughout the year.
For Associates, the partnership provides a fantastic platform to launch or advance their career. KTP presents the opportunity of managing a challenging project central to the strategic development and long term growth of the business as well as personal development opportunities.
KTP can help recent graduates and postgraduates to:
Find out more about KTP opportunities for graduates
News
- Nugen Audio Ltd working with the York academic, Jez Wells, from the Department of Music launches Paragon, which is a reverberation modelling system for use in audio production. Watch a video about Nugen Audio.
- York KTP Associate Alex Komninos is shortlisted in the 'Future Innovator' category, KTP Best of the Best Awards.
- University of York Awarded one of the first African Agri-Food KTP grants.
- Knowledge Transfer Partnership - Fast-track your career.
- York partners with Omnicom and Innovate UK to develop AI technology to revolutionise the future of railway inspections.
- York academics to form KTP with global manufacturer of speciality chemicals.
- KTP Programme Manager visits the University of York.
Case studies
At York, businesses have collaborated on KTP projects with the Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Electronic Engineering, Music, Theatre Film and Television and Biology. The University's world-class research has enabled our business partners to achieve their strategic objectives and beyond.
Related resources