Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026 - 2027 Round 4

Key facts

About this grant

Summary from the official listing on Find a Grant (GOV.UK):

Description

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme allows a UK registered business (which we will refer to collectively as the ‘business partner’ from now on), to partner with a ‘knowledge base partner’. The knowledge base partner should be either a UK higher education (HE) or further education (FE) institution, research and technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult.

The KTP partnership brings new skills and the latest academic thinking to the business partner to deliver a specific, strategic innovation project. The knowledge base partner recruits the ‘associate’ to work on the project. The associate has the opportunity to lead a strategic development within the business, developing new skills and gaining valuable experience.

Guidance on how to apply for a KTP is available.

Each application must be led by a knowledge base, working with a business partner and supported by a Knowledge Transfer Adviser.

If you are a business and do not yet have a relationship with a knowledge base partner, the Knowledge Transfer Adviser can help you to identify one.

In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. This competition has a funding limit, so we may not be able to fund all the proposed projects. It may be the case that your project scores highly but we are still unable to fund it.

We consider a range of factors when determining whether to provide funding to applicants. This includes an assessment of prior conduct, such as any outstanding payments owed to Innovate UK or UKRI. Such factors may influence the funding decision, potentially resulting in a refusal of funding or an award subject to additional scrutiny.

This competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated in this Innovate UK competition brief. We cannot guarantee other government or third party sites will always show the correct competition information.

It takes time to prepare an application. If yours will not be ready before the close date, you can apply to a later round.

Visit the KTP website to find out more about the programme and the current associate roles available for graduates.

Funding type

Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)

Project size

Applicants should develop projects that can be delivered within 24 months. Longer projects up to a maximum of 36 months may be supported where applicants clearly justify the need for an extended duration.

Accessibility and Inclusion

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.

You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance.

We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this competition’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the competition deadline.

You can contact Innovate UK by email or call 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Eligibility

Who can apply

Through the KTP programme, Innovate UK seeks to support innovative businesses with the ambition to scale and grow in the UK.

Each Knowledge Transfer partnership (KTP) is a partnership between the following:

• a UK knowledge base, acting as lead organisation and submitting the application
• a UK registered business

All projects should align with the six Industrial Strategy’s sectors prioritised by Innovate UK.

Projects that do not align with one of the six priority sectors, are eligible, however, funding priority will be given to projects that align with the prioritised areas within the Industrial Strategy.

The following organisations are specifically excluded from applying:

• UKRI, its councils and businesses owned or operated either wholly or partially by UKRI
• Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA)
• central government departments and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Any organisation eligible to become a KTP knowledge base may not apply into KTP as a business partner.

Knowledge base partner

The knowledge base partner cannot work alone.

The knowledge base partner must lead the project and must:

• be a UK registered higher education (HE) or further education (FE) institution, research technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult
• be registered as a knowledge base with the KTP programme
• invite one UK registered business into the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) application
• invite one Knowledge Transfer Adviser to support the application
• not have ownership of 50% or more of the business partner or a controlling interest via a shareholder agreement
• recruit associate roles in a demonstrably open and fair manner
• allow associates to participate in the typical working patterns of the business for the majority of the project, unless working virtually, this should take place at the business partner’s premises
• agree to provide at least half a day per week of academic support for the associate
• complete the application form in partnership with the business
• make sure the application is completed and submitted with the agreement of a Knowledge Transfer Adviser before the competition closes
• submit a current full economic costing (fEC) letter with each application if you are using the full fEC costing model and support the project in accordance with its provision
• provide the project secretariat
• reach an intellectual property (IP) agreement with the business partner before the project commences

-

Details are copied from the official source and can change. Check the official listing before you apply. Grant Writing Company is not affiliated with this funder.