Knowledge Transfer Partnership: 2026 to 2027 round 4
Knowledge Transfer Partnership: 2026 to 2027 round 4 supports academic and business partners to transfer expertise through strategic innovation projects that build business capabilities and productivity.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: October 19, 2026 (Opens) | January 27, 2027, 11:00am UK time (Closes) | March 25, 2027 (Notification) | April 1, 2027 (Feedback)
Funding Amounts: £12.5 million round budget; grants up to 50%–67% of eligible costs, with enhanced Welsh rates; normally within 24 months
Summary: Supports knowledge-base and business partnerships delivering strategic innovation projects that embed new expertise and capabilities in UK businesses.
Key Information: A registered UK knowledge base must lead, with a business partner and Knowledge Transfer Adviser support.
Description
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), delivered by Innovate UK within UK Research and Innovation, bring academic expertise into businesses to address strategic innovation challenges. A UK higher or further education institution, research and technology organisation, or Catapult partners with a business and recruits an associate to deliver the project. The associate works primarily within the business, supported by academic and business supervisors, transferring knowledge the business lacks in-house.
The programme seeks to help businesses innovate, grow and improve productivity while creating benefits for the knowledge base and development opportunities for the associate. This round prioritises six Industrial Strategy sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, and Life Sciences. Projects outside these sectors may qualify when exploiting novel research and involving a business with high growth potential.
