Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
Innovate UK / UKRI
What it funds
Funds a high-calibre graduate (Associate) plus academic team embedded in your business for 12-36 months to deliver a strategic innovation project. SMEs typically pay ~33% of project costs.
Who can apply
UK business able to support a strategic knowledge-transfer project with a UK university or research organisation. Must have capacity to embed and exploit the new capability.
Key criteria
- UK registered business
How to apply
Partner with a university via a Knowledge Transfer Adviser, co-develop the proposal, submit to one of several annual KTP funding rounds.
Evidence you'll need
- Project proposal with university partner
- Company accounts
- Strategic case for knowledge transfer
Last checked against the official source within the last 7 days. Scheme parameters are set by the funder and can change — verify before applying, or let us do it for you.
Related schemes
Innovate UK Grant Competitions
Innovate UK
Rolling portfolio of themed R&D grant competitions for UK businesses, typically funding 25-70% of project costs across feasibility, industrial research and experimental development.
R&D Tax Relief (Merged Scheme & ERIS)
HMRC
Corporation tax relief on qualifying R&D expenditure. Merged scheme gives a 20% above-the-line credit (~15-16% net); loss-making R&D-intensive SMEs can claim enhanced support (ERIS) worth up to ~27p per £1 of qualifying spend.
Patent Box
HMRC
Reduces corporation tax to an effective 10% on profits attributable to patented inventions and certain other IP rights.