Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) is a UK-wide programme which has been helping businesses for 50 years to improve their competitiveness and productivity by connecting them to the UK’s rich academic resources.
The programme enables businesses to access substantial funding and University expertise to deliver strategic projects which help them to develop, often by improving their competitive position, and benefit the UK economy.
A graduate or postgraduate is recruited as the KTP Associate and based full-time at the business, with expert guidance by an academic team from Lancaster University. The projects can be between 12-36 months in duration and up to 75% of project costs are government funded.
KTPs are financially supported by Innovate UK, on behalf of the UK Government Research Councils, aiming to promote research and innovation nationwide. Funding rates vary according to the type and size of organisation. The company partner pays the remaining balance towards the project costs. The funds are managed and accounted for by the academic institution.
Support is available from the KTP Service in Lancaster University's Research and Enterprise Services department for all stages of the KTP application process and throughout the term of the live project. Applications are also supported by a Knowledge Transfer Adviser from Innovate UK Business Connect.
A KTP is a collaboration that benefits all three partners; the business, academic and graduate.
Most businesses and organisations are eligible for a KTP, which can help address innovative strategic challenges by leveraging academic expertise.
KTPs are a great way for academics to engage and facilitate innovation with industry, whilst contributing to the Research Excellence Framework and the Knowledge Exchange Framework
KTPs offer graduates a unique opportunity to apply academic knowledge to real world challenges central to a business's strategic development, whilst providing personal development opportunities
Find out more about some of the businesses we've supported through KTPs
Innovate UK funding supports new age of rice irrigation in Ghana
Lancaster and Ghanaian researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Crops Research Institute (CSIR – CRI) introduced a water-saving irrigation technique to rice farmers.
New film highlights sustainability collaboration between Lancaster University and Lake District farmers
A collaboration between Lancaster University and farms in the Lake District aims to help move farmers towards net-zero meat production.
Environmental firm benefits from university partnership to recycle precious metals
Lancaster University has partnered with environmental firm ICT Reverse to extract precious metals from printed circuit boards (PCB) recovered from waste electrical and electronic equipment.
This video case study showcases the successful Knowledge Transfer Partnership between Lancaster University’s School of Engineering and Atkinson Vos, a small specialist engineering vehicle business. The project introduced modern computational design tools, significantly enhancing the company’s in-house engineering capacity.
Lancaster University's KTP Service provides support throughout the application process, including project scoping, collaboration with the business partner and academic team, and the preparation and submission of the application. Once funding is awarded, we continue to offer administrative support, coordinating the recruitment of the KTP Associate, managing the grant and providing ongoing support throughout the KTP.
Meet Lancaster University's Knowledge Transfer Partnerships team.
KTP Manager
KTP Manager
KTP Support Officer
