Collaborative Opportunities - Keele University

Collaborative Opportunities

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) provides resources and expertise to thriving businesses and organisations throughout the UK who wish to innovate, expand or improve their performance.

Companies and organisations can employ high quality recent graduates, known as Associates, to undertake specific projects that are of strategic importance to the company. The Associate transfers knowledge and expertise from the University to the company with the help of an academic supervisor.

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project is a three-way partnership between a company or organisation, a University and a high quality recent graduate. Projects typically last between 18 months and 3 years and are specifically designed to increase the company’s profits by addressing a strategically important problem.

The Associate is employed by the University but works for the company at their premises and is jointly supervised by a mentor from the company and an academic who will spend, on average, half a day week with the Associate at the company.

The KTP scheme is sponsored by the Technology Strategy Board, Government departments, Research Councils and Regional Development Agencies, thereby providing a wide range of subject areas for projects. The sponsors will fund 50% of the project costs for a large company or 60% for an small and medium sized enterprise (under 250 employees).

 

Benefits to the academic

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships have a long and successful history of providing academics with a means of applying their research to commercial, business situations.

 

Why should you want to get involved in a KTP?

  • Publish research papers
  • Generate real-world case studies that are applicable to teaching
  • Identify new research themes and UG/PG projects
  • Develop relationships that might lead to future collaborations
  • Lead rewarding and ongoing collaborations with innovative businesses
  • Kudos – sponsors include all the Research Councils
  • It provides buy-out to give you the time to work on the project

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q - I’ve never heard of this scheme. How long has it been running for?

A - Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and its predecessor, Teaching Company Scheme, have been running since 1975

 

Q - I have a good relationship with an NHS Trust. Are they eligible?

A - Definitely!! Large companies and SMEs are not the only type of organisations eligible. NHS and Primary Care Trusts, charities and local authorities can also take advantage of a KTP

 

Q - Aren’t KTPs for business and marketing projects only?

A - Definitely not! As KTPs are sponsored by the Research Councils academics from pretty much any subject can be involved in KTPs, so long as an organisation can benefit from their assistance. Across the UK, Partnerships work in many areas including health, management, bio and physical sciences, psychology, history, education, sociology and criminology.

 

Q - How does it work?

A - A KTP starts with a short outline, reviewed by a regional KTP advisor. He/she will meet with the potential partners to see if the proposal is likely to succeed (or not) and give the go-ahead to make a full application.

 

Q - Is there any help available?

A - Yes, most definitely!! Research & Enterprise Services will guide you through the entire process and will take all of the administrative and management burden off you. Contact Andy Brooks in the first instance.

 

For further information contact:

Dr Andy Brooks

Enterprise Business Manager

Tel: (+44) 01782 734496

Email:a.s.brooks@keele.ac.uk