The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026 – 2027 Round 3 enables UK academic-business collaborations to turn research into innovative products and solutions, funded by UK Research and Innovation.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: October 14, 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to £12.5 million available for the round; typical project grants cover up to 67% of eligible costs for SMEs, 50% for large companies; projects are expected to run up to 24 months.
Summary: Supports UK academic-business partnerships to deliver strategic innovation projects that drive commercial and societal impact.
This funding opportunity is designed to foster collaborative innovation between UK academic institutions, research and technology organisations (RTOs), Catapults, and UK-registered businesses. The scheme enables knowledge transfer, allowing academic expertise to be embedded within commercial environments to develop new products, processes, or services. Projects should address strategic challenges faced by the business partner and are intended to deliver tangible economic and societal benefits. The programme is jointly funded by Innovate UK and business partners, with support from other devolved administrations.