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Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Improve your organisation's competitiveness and productivity through funded partnerships with us.

What are Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)?

KTPs are collaborative projects between a university, a UK business and a graduate. Projects last between 12 and 36 months and are part-funded by UKRI through Innovate UK.  

The aim of a KTP is to generate profit for your business, while presenting an academic challenge.  The Associate works full-time at your business premises and is supervised by an academic half a day a week.

Knowledge transfer is key to KTP, setting it apart from traditional consultancy. Through collaboration, we create new capabilities for your business. We then transfer that knowledge to your business for long-term profit generation.  

How KTPs can support your Business

If you have an innovative idea but lack the in-house expertise to develop it. A KTP will support you to:

  • develop innovative solutions for your business
  • increase your profits
  • gain entry to new markets
  • develop and grow new revenue streams

Business Partner Benefits

  • An average increase in pre-tax profit of £750k pa in the 3rd year following the KTP
  • Business Partner owns IP generated by the KTP
  • Provides access to academic expertise and specialist University equipment and resources
  • Embeds new capability within a business and upskills existing staff
  • Receive expert support, from application development to post award project management
  • High application success rate

 

Academic Benefits

  • Build rewarding relationships with external partners
  • Lead research with real world impact
  • Identify new research themes
  • Produce high quality publications
  • Build on collaborative skills
  • Enrich teaching material
  • Contribute to REF Impact case studies

 

Academic colleagues can learn more through the University internal site (requires password).

How much does it cost and what is covered?

Your contribution:

Employer SizeFunding RateEmployer contribution (approx.)
Third Sector 75% £22-25k per year
SME 67% £28-33k per year
Large Business 50% £43-48k per year
Public Sector 50% £43-48k per year

Costs cover:

  • KTP Associate salary
  • £2,000 per annum professional development budget
  • £3,750 per annum covering travel and consumables
  • opportunity to request up to £10,000 for consumables/travel budget
  • up to £10,000 to cover the cost of facilities access
  • half a day per week support from a Newcastle University academic
  • access to state-of-the-art facilities at Newcastle University
  • expert administrative support from our dedicated KTP team
  • project support provided by a Knowledge Transfer Network Advisor

Why Newcastle University?

Our portfolio covers many industries, cultural organisations, social enterprises and academic disciplines. We have a track record of success having delivered over 60 projects in the past 6 years.

We have a dedicated KTP Unit providing expert support. This makes us well positioned to increase the competitiveness of your business.

We will:

  • appoint the best associate to deliver your project
  • provide access to leading academics in your chosen field
  • explore options for a wider relationship for you with the University