Knowledge Transfer Partnership
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funds collaborations between UK businesses and academic organisations to deliver innovation projects using graduate associates.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: April 1, 2026 | June 24, 2026 | September 16, 2026 | November 18, 2026 | February 3, 2027 | April 21, 2027 | June 23, 2027
Funding Amounts: Typical project costs: SMEs contribute ~£35,000/year, large companies £50,000+/year; projects last 12–36 months; grant covers part of total cost.
Summary: Supports partnerships between UK businesses and academic organisations to deliver innovation projects using a graduate associate.
Description
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme is a long-running UK initiative that connects businesses with academic or research organisations to address innovation challenges. Each partnership involves a business, an academic partner (university, college, research organisation, or Catapult), and a qualified graduate associate who is employed by the academic partner but works within the business. The aim is to deliver a strategic innovation project that the business could not achieve alone, leveraging academic expertise for economic growth or societal impact. Projects typically last between 12 and 36 months and are supported by a mix of grant funding and business contributions.
