Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a unique three-way collaboration, with grant funding, between a business and a university, employing a graduate (known as an Associate) to work at the company on the project.  A KTP will typically last 2-3 years, depending on the time required to achieve the required outcomes and is an excellent opportunity to explore the practical applications of academic research to solve important business problems and facilitate innovation and growth within your business.

KTPs offer benefits to all parties, for businesses if you have an idea but do not have all the in-house expertise needed to develop it, a KTP or a Management KTP may be the perfect solution. They allow you to embed expertise, generate new knowledge, expand capability and foster a culture of innovation.

For academics they allow you to apply knowledge and expertise to real-world problems, are a source of valuable research income and impact case studies, and a strong foundation to build a relationship.  KTPs typically have at least two academics supporting each project. The Academic Supervisor is responsible for day-to-day supervision for the KTP Associate to guide their technical, academic, and professional development with a time commitment of a minimum half a day per week on average working on the project. The Lead Academic has a wider strategic view of the project and is responsible for ensuring that the university fulfils its commitments to the project. Academic time is costed using FEC and paid for by the grant. 

KTPs offer graduates a fulfilling employment opportunity with excellent training in a role that bridges both academia and business. All KTP roles at the University of Reading will be advertised on the university jobs website as well as on www.jobs.ac.uk. KTP Associate vacancies available nationally can be found on the KTP job website.  

Innovate UK has also introduced the Management KTP to help companies expand management capability by partnering with business schools. The new Management KTP works in the same way as a KTP, only the partnership is focused specifically on delivering human-centred and/or technology-enabled, strategic change.