The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme helps businesses in the UK to innovate and grow. It does this by linking the business with an academic and a graduate.
A KTP enables a business to bring in new skills and the latest academic thinking to deliver a specific, strategic innovation project through a knowledge-based partnership.
The University will help to recruit a suitable graduate, known as an associate, and will act as the employer of the graduate, who then works at the company for the duration.
The KTP usually lasts 12 to 36 months, depending on the project and the needs of the business.
Each KTP is a three-way partnership between:
- A UK business of any size or a not-for-profit organisation
- A University-based academic
- A suitably-qualified graduate with the capability to lead a strategic business project.
Benefit to businesses
Taking part in a KTP can help you to develop your business. You can get academic expertise that you don't have in house. This can improve your business performance and help you to become more competitive and productive.
A KTP is part-funded by a grant. You will need to contribute to the salary of the associate who will work with your business, plus the cost of a supervisor who will oversee the scheme.
The amount you will need to contribute depends on the scale and length of the project. It will also depend on the size of your company:
If you are a small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME), you will need to contribute a third of the costs. The average annual contribution to a project for an SME is around £35,000.
If you are a larger business, you may need to contribute half the cost. The average annual contribution to a project for a larger company is around £45,000.
Benefit to academics
Academic partners who take part in a KTP produce, on average, more than three new research projects and two research papers for each project and often are able to develop an impact case study.
RIE will work with you and the business partner to scope the project and put the application together.
Benefit to associates (graduate)
KTP is one of the UK's largest graduate recruitment programmes. There are over 300 job opportunities each year. KTPs support career development and often lead to a permanent job.
Find out more about how KTPs can help your business
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