Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
July 27, 2026
The innovation programme most businesses think isn’t for them – but absolutely is. 
What if we told you that some of the most commercially successful products in the UK, from advanced manufacturing processes to AI-powered service platforms, didn’t come from internal R&D teams, but from a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between a business and a university?
And here’s the part most companies don’t realise: KTPs routinely deliver increases in productivity, profitability, employment or turnover.
Not bad for a programme many local businesses still assume is “only for big companies” or “too academic to be practical”.
The reality is very different. KTPs are one of Innovate UK’s most powerful business support mechanisms, designed specifically to help small and medium-sized businesses tackle strategic challenges, accelerate innovation, and bring commercially valuable ideas to market faster than they ever could alone.
From 2010-2020, £200m was invested in KTPs which generated £2.3B for the UK economy.
What exactly is a KTP?
A Knowledge Transfer Partnership is a part‑funded Innovate UK programme that connects your business with university expertise to deliver a strategic innovation project.
You get:
- A dedicated full-time specialist (the KTP Associate) working inside your business
- Academic experts providing targeted knowledge and technical capability
- A structured innovation project designed around your commercial goals
- Part funding from Innovate UK to reduce the cost and risk
KTPs typically run for 12–36 months and are built to deliver measurable commercial impact – not theoretical research.
Why businesses choose KTPs
- Solve problems you can’t tackle alone – from automation to data analytics, product development, sustainability, or new service models
- Access expertise you don’t have in-house
- Accelerate innovation without disrupting day-to-day operations
- Build long-term capability – many Associates become permanent employees
- Derisk strategic change with part funding and structured project management
If your business has a challenge that’s holding back growth, or an opportunity you can’t quite reach, a KTP may be the most effective route to unlocking it.
Explore a KTP with University of Staffordshire or Keele University
Local businesses can explore KTP opportunities directly with our regional university partners:
- Justin Pover – University of Staffordshire employers@staffs.ac.uk
- Emma Bonfiglio – Keele University gateway@keele.ac.uk
We work closely with the Growth Hub and local businesses to shape strong, commercially focused KTP proposals. If you’re curious, even if you’re unsure whether your idea fits, reach out. A 15 minute conversation is often all it takes to identify whether a KTP could unlock something game changing for your business.
