Funding competition Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2022 to 2023 Round 3

UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £9 million to fund innovation projects with businesses or not for profits.

This competition is now closed.

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Competition sections

Description

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme allows a UK registered business or not for profit organisation (which we will refer to collectively as the ‘business partner’ from now on) to partner with a knowledge base partner’ (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 into 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 provided here.

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.

By submitting an application, you are entering into a competitive process. The competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated.

It takes time to prepare an application. If yours will not be ready before the close date, please 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

Typically, a project’s total costs are no more than £75,000 per year. A proportion of the knowledge base partners costs will be funded by Innovate UK. The remainder of the project costs are paid by the business partner.

Who can apply

Each KTP is a partnership between the following:

  • a UK knowledge base, acting as lead organisation and submitting the application
  • a UK registered business or not for profit organisation

We use the term ‘business partner’ for both businesses and not for profit organisations.

The definition KTP uses for ‘not for profit organisation’ includes social enterprises and charities.

KTP does not support projects where the business partner is in the public sector.

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 or not for profit organisation of any size into the Innovation Funding Service 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 IP agreement with the business partner before the project commences
  • agree to attend specified meetings at a location identified by the business partner
  • ensure that none of the proposed academic team are directors, consultants or otherwise engaged by the business or group

As part of their involvement in the project the knowledge base partner must provide a case study to Innovate UK using the template provided, upon completion of the project.

Academic knowledge base partners must also seek to publish a minimum of 2 academic papers for publication per completed project.

Catapults must create at least 2 industry focused publications per project.

Your business partner must be invited into the Innovation Funding Service by the knowledge base partner to collaborate on a project. When the business partner accepts their invitation, they will need to:

  • login or create an account
  • enter estimates of their own project costs, which may be updated as part of the final reporting process

Business partner

Business partners cannot work alone. They must develop the project with a UK knowledge base who can provide the right skills to meet the knowledge gap within the business. We encourage business partners to approach Innovate UK KTN or knowledge bases to discuss the suitability of KTP for their specific circumstances.

To collaborate with the knowledge base, the business partner must:

  • be a UK registered business or a not for profit organisation of any size
  • have 2 or more full time equivalent employees
  • determine the size of their business or group
  • complete the application form in partnership with the knowledge base partner
  • provide evidence of their ability to financially support their contribution
  • host the associate and provide them with day to day supervisory support
  • host monthly supervisor, Local management Committee (LMC) and other mandatory meetings at their own expense
  • provide evidence that demonstrates their ability to financially support the exploitation of the project
  • reach a written intellectual property (IP) agreement with the knowledge base before the project commences

The business partner must provide financial accounts from the current financial year and the previous two years. Other supporting documentation may be required. For businesses less than 3 years old, the knowledge base or Knowledge Transfer Adviser will give further guidance.

The size of your business determines the proportion of eligible costs we will fund. If the business is part of a group, it is the overall size of the group should be declared.

Please refer to the company accounts guidance or speak to your accountant, to help determine the overall size of your business or group.

The KTP programme is accessible to any UK registered business. This is normally demonstrated on a public register, such as on Companies House.

The registered name and registration number provided must match the official public register.

UK subsidiary businesses of overseas parent companies are eligible, provided they are individually registered in the UK.

The knowledge base partner and the business partner must sign a joint commitment statement. The business partner’s registered name must be used for both the application and the joint commitment statement.

You must deliver an exploitation plan during your project. By completing all sections of the application form you will have completed your initial exploitation plan.

Subcontractors

Subcontractors are not allowed in this competition.

No subsidy

This competition provides funding that is not classed by Innovate UK as a subsidy. You should still seek independent legal advice on what this means for you, before applying.

More information about the UK Subsidy Control requirements can be found within the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation agreement and the subsequent BEIS guidance.

‘No subsidy’ status is only granted to organisations which declare that they will not use the funding:

  • in any way which gives them selective economic or commercial advantage
  • in any way which would determine the funding as a subsidy as defined by the EU-UK Trade Cooperation Agreement

It is the responsibility of the lead organisation to make sure all collaborators in the project remain compliant with these requirements.

It is important to note that it is the activity that an organisation is engaged in as part of the project and not its intentions, that define whether any support provided could be considered a subsidy.


Further information

If you are unsure about your obligations under the UK Subsidy Control regime you should take independent legal advice. We cannot advise on individual eligibility or legal obligations.

If there are any changes to the above requirements that mean we need to change the terms of this competition, we will tell you as soon as possible.

Funding

Find out about the cost of participating in KTP and understand which project costs are eligible for funding.

Any funding is provided on a no subsidy basis. This means you must publish or make all project outputs openly available on a non-selective basis. If you decide to commercially exploit project outputs, you can only do so with no selective advantage.

Contribution from Innovate UK

Innovate UK has allocated up to £9 million in this round of the KTP programme, which will contribute towards the total costs of the individual projects.

The grant contribution to your project may be funded wholly or in part by one or more of the KTP financial supporters. You must choose at least one of the following financial supporters:

  • UKRI KTP (Innovate UK)
  • Invest Northern Ireland
  • Scottish Funding Council
  • Welsh Government
  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

The delivery of the KTP programme is also supported by the UK Research Councils. If their involvement could be beneficial to your project, this must be indicated in the application.

Successful applications are partially funded on the following basis:

  • large companies may receive a grant contribution of up to 50% of eligible project costs, subject to a cap, with the business paying the balance
  • SME’s may receive a grant contribution up to 67% of eligible project costs, subject to a cap, with the business paying the balance
  • not for profit businesses of any size may receive a grant contribution of up to 75% of eligible project costs, subject to a cap, with the business paying the balance

Eligible costs depend on a number of factors, including the:

  • duration of the project
  • registered location of project
  • size of the business or group

Find out about the cost of participating in KTP and understand which project costs are eligible for funding.

Contribution from the business partner

The business partner in your application must provide funding towards the project delivery. The amount depends on the:

  • total eligible project costs
  • duration of the project
  • registered location of the business
  • location of the project
  • size of the business or group

Additionally, the business partner must fund:

  • items listed in the additional costs section of the application form
  • the time spent on the project by their own staff
  • other non-eligible costs such as the purchase of capital equipment
  • commercialisation of the project outputs

Application rules

Number of applications

Each knowledge base can collaborate with any number of business partners.

Each business partner (including separate businesses within a business group) can only take part in up to 4 concurrent KTP funded projects.

Additional applications may be allowed at the discretion of the programme manager.

You must provide justification by email to support@iuk.ukri.org at least 20 working days before the competition closes. We will decide whether to approve your request.

Previous applications

You cannot use a previously submitted application to apply for this competition.

We will not award you funding if you have previously failed to:

Knowledge Transfer Advisers

Applications must be supported by an Innovate UK appointed Knowledge Transfer Adviser (KTA). The adviser will provide the knowledge base and business with guidance throughout the application process.

To support all projects equitably, the adviser may set a timetable for the knowledge base and business during the development of an application. Should the timetable or the guidance offered not be followed, the KTA may choose not to support an application.

Any projects submitted without adviser approval will be withdrawn from the competition.

Your project

Your application must be for a specific, strategic innovation project that tackles one or more challenges faced by the business partner.

It can be any kind of project and must show:

  • how it helps the business with a real need
  • how it fits the strategic aims of the business partner
  • a genuine market opportunity and a viable route to market
  • how the knowledge gained will be embedded within the business partner
  • what makes your project innovative

Projects we will not fund

We will not fund:

  • projects that are not strategic for the business partner
  • projects that do not demonstrate a genuine market opportunity or viable route to market
  • research projects
  • projects where the business partner is in the public sector
  • projects which are classed as State aid under EC regulations or a subsidy under the EU-UK TCA
  • undertakings which gain a selective economic or commercial advantage from the funding

27 June 2022
Competition opens
14 September 2022 11:00am
Competition closes
10 November 2022
Funder’s panel
17 November 2022 8:04am
Applicants notified

Before you start

You must read the guidance for KTP applicants before you apply.

You must complete all relevant sections of the application and upload the required documents using the templates provided. Failure to do so will result in the application being withdrawn from the competition.

You must not name an associate in your application.

You must not include any hyperlinks (URLs) in your answers. Inclusion of hyperlinks will lead to the application being withdrawn from the competition.

What we ask you

The application is split into 4 sections:

  1. Scope: If your project is not in scope it will not be assessed and will be withdrawn from the competition.
  2. Project details.
  3. Application questions.
  4. Finances.

If your application is in scope, the assessors will score the following sections in your application holistically:

They will score on:

  • impact
  • challenge
  • innovation
  • cohesiveness

Each of these areas will be scored out of 10 marks (for a maximum total of 40 marks). Assessors will also consider the viability of the overall project including consideration of project affordability and commercialisation of outcomes.

You must meet all the eligibility rules for your project to be considered for funding.

By completing all sections of the application form you will have completed your initial exploitation plan.

1. Project details

This section provides background for the assessors and is not scored.

Application team

Decide which organisations will work with you on the project. Invite people from those organisations to help complete the application.

Team members must each complete an Equality Diversity and Inclusion survey. The lead applicant must complete their survey to submit the application.

Application Details

The format of the application title must be “Knowledge Base and Business Partner KTP Year Round X”.

For example: University of Innovation and Shelen Ltd KTP 22_23 R3

This competition is KTP 22_23 R3.

Project duration must be in months

Your answer can be up to 20 words long.

Project summary

Your project summary will give the assessors a useful introduction to your project. It should provide a clear overview of the whole project, including:

  • your vision for the project
  • key objectives
  • main areas of focus
  • details of how it is innovative

Your answer can be up to 200 words long.

Public description

The public description must begin with “To” and be suitable for public disclosure.

For example: To develop a novel process for picking soft fruit.

If your application is successful, Innovate UK will make use of this public description to comply with government requirements. We reserve the right to amend the description before publication.

Your answer can be up to 50 words long.

Scope

Describe how your project fits with the scope of the competition.

To demonstrate how your project aligns with the scope of this competition you must:

  • read the competition brief in full
  • understand the background, challenges and scope of the competition

You must describe:

  • how your project helps the business with a real need
  • how your project fits the strategic aims of the business partner
  • the genuine market opportunity and a viable route to market
  • how the knowledge gained will be embedded within the business partner
  • what makes your proposed project innovative

If requesting support from a Research Council provide a summary of its alignment with the interest and goals of the Research Council.

Your answer can be up to 200 words long.

Subsidy Basis

Will the project, including any related activities, you want Innovate UK to fund, affect trade between Northern Ireland and the EU?

All participants must respond and mark this question as complete, before you can submit your application.

2. Application questions

Text change made on 29/6/2022: Added two follow up questions Number 45 and 46.

You must answer all questions.

You must not name an associate in your application or include any website addresses (URLs) in your answers

Question 1. KTP type

What type of KTP are you applying for?

Select one:

  • Classic KTP
  • Management KTP

Question 2. Number of associates

How many associates do you need to support this project?

Select whether you have 1 or 2 associates.

Question 3. Business partner type

What is the business partner type?

This refers to the applicant business not the parent group.

Select one:

  • limited company
  • limited liability partnership (LLP)
  • charity
  • not for profit
  • partnership
  • public limited company
  • sole trader
  • unlimited company

Question 4. Is the business partner a virtual business

Is the business partner a virtual business?

The key characteristic of virtual businesses is that their employees predominantly work from home and are connected by online services. Some virtual businesses retain premises whilst some do not.

Select one:

  • Yes
  • No

Question 5. Business partner size

Give the size of the business partner’s organisation. If the business partner is part of a group give the size of the overall group.

Select one:

  • micro
  • small
  • medium
  • large

For more information on business sizes, please refer to the company accounts guidance.

Question 6. Business partner SIC code

What is the business partner’s Standard Industrial Code (SIC)?

If the business partner is a registered charity, use 88990.

Question 7. Business partner registration number

What is the business partner’s name and registration number?

This is normally demonstrated on a public register, such as on Companies House.

The registered name and registration number provided must match the official public register.

An incorrect name or number will result in the application being withdrawn from the competition.

Question 8. Partnership Details

You must state the name and full registered address of your organisation and your business partner working on the project.

We are collecting this information to understand the geographical location of all participants of a project.

Provide the full registered name and address of the knowledge base partner in this format:

  • building name or number and street
  • town or city
  • county
  • postcode

Provide the full registered name and address of the business partner in this format:

  • building name or number and street
  • town or city
  • county
  • postcode

Your answer can be up to 100 words long

Question 9. What is the expected working model for the associate?

Where will the associate mainly be working?

Select one:

  • at a business location
  • working from home and a business location (hybrid)
  • working from home (virtual)

Question 10. Meeting location

Where will the business partner hold the face-to-face Project Management meetings and Local Management Committee meetings? Provide the full address of the location in this format:

  • building name or number and street
  • town or city
  • county
  • postcode

Your answer can be up to 50 words long

Question 11. Senior business employee

Who is the senior business partner employee?

Give their details in this format:

  • title
  • first name
  • surname
  • email address

Your answer can be up to 50 words long.

Question 12. Senior business employee’s background

You must provide details of the senior employee at the business partner and explain why their experience makes them suitable for this role.

The senior business employee will be expected to chair the Local Management Committee overseeing the delivery of the project.

The individual named must:

  • demonstrate the business partner or its group’s commitment to the partnership
  • provide evidence of the authority received to commit its resources to support the delivery of the project

Your answer can be up to 300 words long.

Question 13. Business partner supervisor

You must identify the business partner supervisor for each associate.

Give their details in this format:

Business partner supervisor for associate 1

  • title
  • first name
  • surname
  • job title
  • email address

Business partner supervisor for associate 2

  • title
  • first name
  • surname
  • job title
  • email address

Your answer can be up to 50 words long.

Question 14. Business partner supervisor’s background

What is the business partner supervisor’s background?

Explain why their experience makes them suitable for this role.

The individual named must:

  • work in a team with the knowledge base supervisor and the associate
  • give day-to-day support to the project
  • offer guidance and mentoring support to the associate
  • provide links to information and expertise available within the business

It is expected that the supervisor will ensure that the business gives consideration to any request for resources or training of business personnel required for the project to succeed and for its outputs to become embedded within the business.

If your project has more than 1 business partner supervisor, you must give the background details for each person

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 15. Knowledge base supervisor

Which knowledge base partner employee will give the associate academic supervision?

You must identify the knowledge base supervisor for each associate.

Give their details in this format:

Knowledge base supervisor for associate 1

  • title
  • first name
  • surname
  • job title
  • email address

Knowledge base supervisor for associate 2

  • title
  • first name
  • surname
  • job title
  • email address

Your answer can be up to 50 words long

Question 16. Knowledge base supervisor’s background

What is the knowledge base supervisor’s background?

For each knowledge base supervisor:

  • describe how their research interests and experience are relevant to the project
  • give evidence that they are the right person to supervise the project and the associate

If your project has more than 1 knowledge base supervisor, you must give the background details for each person

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 17. Knowledge base lead

Who will be the knowledge base lead? The knowledge base lead is the senior academic on your project.

Give their details in this format:

  • title
  • first name
  • surname
  • job title
  • email address

Your answer can be up to 50 words long

Question 18. Knowledge base lead’s background

What is the knowledge base lead’s background?

For the knowledge base lead:

  • describe how their research interests and experience are relevant to the project
  • give evidence that they are the right person to support the academic delivery within the project

Your answer can be up to 300 words long.

Question 19. Partnership administrator

Who will be the partnership administrator?

The partnership administrator is the main person we will contact at the knowledge base partner to ask questions about this application or partnership.

Give their details in this format:

  • title
  • first name
  • surname
  • job title
  • email address
  • phone number
  • building name or number and street
  • town or city
  • county
  • postcode

Your answer can be up to 50 words long

Question 20. Person responsible for submitting claims

Who will be the person responsible for submitting claims?

Provide details of the person responsible for submitting claims on behalf of the knowledge base partner.

Give their details in this format:

  • title
  • first name
  • surname
  • email address
  • phone number

Your answer can be up to 50 words long

Question 21. Strategic aims

Explain how this project fits with the strategic aims of the business partner.

Explain:

  • why this project is important to the business partner
  • the business vision that this partnership addresses
  • what problems or opportunities this partnership addresses
  • what key outcomes this partnership will deliver to the business
  • how this partnership will make a significant difference to this business partner

Your answer can be up to 600 words long.

Question 22. Business area

What area does the business partner work in? Clearly state its revenue generating activities.

If the business partner is not yet generating revenues, provide details of their funding sources. If part of a business group, please also indicate the broader business activities undertaken by the group.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 23. Missing knowledge

What knowledge or expertise does the business partner currently lack that it will need to carry out this project?

What knowledge, technology or skills does the business partner need from the knowledge base partner?

Your answer can be up to 500 words long.

Question 24. Use of knowledge

How will the knowledge and expertise transferred during your project be embedded and exploited within the business partner?

Explain how the new knowledge and expertise:

  • within your project will be embedded and remain in the business, with continued use beyond the lifetime of your project
  • will continue to boost the business's success

Your answer can be up to 500 words long.

Question 25. Reason for partnership

Why is an academic and business partnership the most appropriate approach for this activity?

Explain why the KTP structure and funding is necessary to achieve the desired outcomes. Explain why these outcomes could not be delivered by 'off the shelf' solutions, direct recruitment or through consultancy.

Your answer can be up to 500 words long.

Question 26. Business partner’s challenges

What challenges does the business partner have that will be addressed through the partnership?

Explain any specific challenges that will be difficult to address in the execution of your project.

Describe how the solution moves the business partner forward in such a way that it challenges current or accepted practice in the business partner or sector.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 27. Associate’s challenge

What makes this a challenging project for the associate?

Explain what the associate will focus on, for example:

  • technical challenges
  • resource challenges
  • people and change management challenges
  • project management challenges

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 28. Associate arrangements

How will the associate or associates be supervised?

Associate supervision is critical to the success of any partnership.

Each associate must be supervised by both the:

  • business partner supervisor on a daily basis
  • knowledge base supervisor for at least half a day each week

Describe:

  • the nature of the daily supervision provided by the business supervisor
  • the nature of the half a day per week of supervision that will be provided by the academic supervisor
  • additional measures that will be implemented by project partners to support hybrid and virtual working

If the associate spends any time at the knowledge base, daily supervision will also be required from the academic supervisor. The business partner supervisor must also commit to supervise the associate at the knowledge base location.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 29. Associates

In order to deliver your project successfully, what are you looking for from your associates?

Briefly describe the essential and desirable:

  • qualifications
  • skills
  • attributes
  • experience

Explain the rationale for the budget request being made for associate employment costs based on the skills outlined and the location of the project.

If your project is successful, the associate must be appointed through an open recruitment process.

If potential associates are named within the application, it will be withdrawn from the competition.

Your answer can be up to 500 words long.

Question 30. Knowledge base partner’s challenges and benefits

What challenges does the knowledge base partner have that will be addressed through this partnership?

Explain:

  • what challenge your project offers the academic team
  • why the academic team want to undertake this project
  • the additional benefits and outcomes the KTP will bring to the knowledge base partner

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 31 Market opportunity

What market opportunities relating to the business case, will your project open up?

Describe:

  • the target markets
  • their relative size or value
  • the market share you are expecting to achieve
  • the business partner's current position in these markets
  • the existing or emerging competitive offerings

Your answer can be up to 600 words long.

Question 32. Route to market

What is your route to market?

What is your strategy to achieve market share?

Your answer can be up to 600 words long.

Question 33. Additional business actions and investments

What additional business actions and investments will be needed to commercialise the outputs from your project and deliver the benefits described ?

What does the business partner need to do?

What additional investments will they need to make? You must quantify costs and timings.

Your answer can be up to 500 words long.

Question 34. Additional benefits

What additional benefits will be delivered as part of your project?

Describe:

  • the number of new and safeguarded jobs
  • any wider societal and environmental benefits
  • any other benefits that this project will deliver that may help your case for support

Your answer can be up to 500 words long.

Question 35. Workplan

How will you manage your project effectively?

Use the latest workplan template to detail your projects steps and stages, including benefits realisation phase and the exploitation phase.

You must select “yes” to confirm the completed template has been uploaded. If you select ‘No’ your application will not be considered for funding.

You must download the latest workplan template, complete it and upload it as a PDF with a file size of up to 10MB. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

Failure to upload a completed workplan on the latest template will mean the application will not be considered for funding.

Individual tasks in the workplan should typically have a 4 week duration to provide sufficient detail to support the assessment of the application.

The workplan should provide a summary of the technical aspects and the knowledge embedding activities undertaken in the project to deliver a legacy capability in the business.

Where there are two associates addressing different technical aspects of the project, they may work at the same time or may be staggered. The workplan should assume full time working although it should be noted that Innovate UK are open to part-time or flexible working practices during project delivery and recognise that this may result in a longer overall project duration.

The workplan must include a summary of project risks and a summary Gantt indicating the inter-dependencies between tasks.

If your project has two associates then two workplans must be provided and these must indicate inter-dependencies between the associate’s activities.

Workplans must be uploaded individually as appendices to this question. Each workplan must be a PDF, and no larger than 10MB in size. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 36. LMC members

You must confirm that each member of the local management committee (LMC) is aware of their role and responsibility. You must also confirm the knowledge base will provide the project secretariat.

Before the application is submitted you must ensure each LMC member is made aware their participation in the LMC is mandatory, should the application be successful.

As the formal project meeting, the LMC must be chaired by the senior business employee. Each member of the LMC must be listed in the Application Team section of the application. Once recruited the associate must also attend the meeting.

Members of the LMC are:

  • senior business employee
  • knowledge base supervisor – associate 1
  • knowledge base supervisor – associate 2
  • business supervisor – associate 1
  • business supervisor – associate 2
  • knowledge base lead
  • knowledge transfer adviser
  • knowledge base project administrator
  • associates

You must select one:

  • Yes
  • No

If your answer is no, your application will be rejected and not progressed any further.

Question 37. Previous business partner KTPs

Has the business partner now or ever undertaken a KTP?

Type “Yes” or “No” as part of your answer.

If Yes, for all applications that have been awarded within the previous 5 years you must provide:

  • the KTP reference number for each previously funded KTP project
  • a brief description of what benefits were gained by the business partner
  • details of how the new KTP application relates to the previous projects
  • details of how this project differentiates from previous KTP’s undertaken by the business partner

We will not support a project that repeats activity undertaken in a previous KTP involving the same business partner.

When two or more applications from the same business or group are made to the same round of KTP, each application must contain details to highlight the other submission. You must explain the reason for the multiple applications.

You are reminded that a business may receive funding for no more than 4 concurrent KTP projects.

Your answer can be up to 300 words long.

Question 38. Previous funding information

Have any of the partners previously received non-KTP awards that relate to this application within the last 5 years.

This includes awards from UKRI and other funding bodies.

Type “Yes” or “No” as part of your answer.

If Yes, you must provide:

  • the award number
  • the date of the award
  • the name of your supporter
  • a brief description of the award
  • details of how the previous award is linked to this project

Your answer can be up 200 words long.

Question 39. Joint commitment statement

The knowledge base partner and business partner must declare a commitment to work together on the project by completing our joint commitment statement template.

Download the latest joint commitment statement (JCS) template, complete it and upload it as a PDF with a file size of up to 10MB. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

Select ‘Yes’ to confirm you have uploaded the completed template.

If you select ‘No’ or you do not upload the latest version of a completed JCS, your application will not be considered for funding.

Question 40. Potential supporters

Which funder do you want to financially support your project? You must type the name exactly as shown below.

You must choose at least one of the following:

  • UKRI KTP (Innovate UK)
  • Invest Northern Ireland
  • Scottish Funding Council
  • Welsh Government
  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

In addition to the financial supporters, you can select relevant UKRI Research councils that may wish to support your project.

  • Arts and Humanities Research Council
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
  • Economic and Social Research Council
  • Medical Research Council
  • Natural Environment Research Council
  • Science and Technology Facilities Council

If you select a supporter, they will be asked to review the application as a non-scoring assessor. The relevance of the selected supporter should be made clear within the application.

The Research Council supporters can make a recommendation for a project proposing societal benefits as well as commercial impacts to be considered for funding by Innovate UK.

Question 41. Supporting documents 1

You can use this question to upload up to 3 other supporting documents as appendices. For example, you can use this question to upload documents providing supporting evidence of the business partner’s finance position.

You must not upload photographs, excerpts from websites or, electronic reports or documents that contain hyperlinks.

Appendices must be in PDF format with a file size up to 10MB. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

Select “Yes” or “No” to indicate whether you have uploaded a document.

Question 42. Supporting documents 2

You can use this question to upload up to 3 other supporting documents as appendices. For example, you can use this question to upload documents providing supporting evidence of the business partner’s finance position.

You must not upload photographs, excerpts from websites or, electronic reports or documents that contain hyperlinks.

Appendices must be in PDF format with a file size up to 10MB. The font must be legible at 100% zoom

Select “Yes” or “No” to indicate whether you have uploaded a document.

Question 43. Declaration of accuracy

You must agree to the following declaration.

The partnership confirms that the proposal meets the overarching criteria for KTP and, to the best of their knowledge, the information provided in this grant application form is accurate and complete.Select ‘Yes’ if you agree. If you select ‘No’ your application will not be considered for funding.

Question 44. Declaration of knowledge transfer adviser approval

You must agree to the following declaration.

The partnership confirms that a knowledge transfer adviser has reviewed the application and supports its submission into the competition

Select ‘Yes’ if you agree. If you select ‘No’ your application will not be considered for funding.

Question 45. Commercial Impacts

What are the likely impacts of your project?


Explain:

  • the rationale you used to generate the likely impacts
  • how you calculated the net profit before tax figures
  • why this is the best approach for generating likely impact

You must quantify the likely commercial impacts of your project.

You must download the latest commercial impacts template, complete it and upload as a PDF with a file size of up to 10MB. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

In undertaking a Knowledge Transfer Partnership it is expected that the project outcomes will be primarily exploited for the UK’s benefit. The KTP terms and conditions contains clauses pertaining to the exploitation of the outcomes from the project.

Your answer can be up to 750 words long.

Question 46. Project funding

Demonstrate how the business plans to address the funding of this project?

Explain:

  • how the business can afford the project
  • how any of the investments needed to undertake the project and commercialisation will be funded

If the business accounts show any of the following issues, you must also provide additional details:

  • declining turnover
  • low net profit pre-tax
  • negative liquidity
  • high debt or equity
  • growth in long term loans

If the business’ financial position is complex and requires further explanation you should attach a business letter to the application.

Your answer can be up to 500 words long.

3. Finances

The knowledge base partner must provide details of the funding requested within each individual cost category for the project.

These categories are:

  • Associate Employment Costs
  • Associate Development
  • Travel and Subsistence
  • Consumables
  • Academic Supervisor costs
  • Additional Associate costs
  • Estates
  • Other

For full details on what costs you can claim, see the KTP project costs guidance.

Costs for Consumables and Travel and Subsistence must be itemised and justified in the application.

The knowledge base partner must ensure the additional business cost estimates section is completed.

Using the tables provided the business partner must provide details of the business’:

  • financial position current financial year (if the latest filed accounts are more than 9 months old at the date of the competitions funders panel)
  • financial position over the preceding 2 financial years
  • financial contribution to support its own costs associated with its participation in the proposed project

The applicant knowledge base must undertake their own due diligence on the finances of the business to assess their ability to support their financial commitments to the project funding.

Background and further information

About the Knowledge Transfer Partnership

To find out more about KTP, read the KTP guidance.

About academic associate supervision

All academic supervision must be delivered weekly.

Supervision can be delivered in one of two ways, either face-to-face or virtually.

You must deliver academic supervision in the chosen format for the duration of the project.

You must clearly state in the “Associate Supervision” question which option you are choosing.

About project management meeting

A monthly project management meeting with the academic supervisor, associate and business partner is mandatory and must happen face to face.

About Management KTPs

Management KTPs (MKTPs) focus on increasing effectiveness and improving productivity through better management practices. They create a partnership with a UK business school or academics that can demonstrate how their experience relates to management practice.

Management KTPs are aimed at supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) businesses. Large companies are considered on a case by case basis.

To find out more, read the Management KTP guidance.

Data sharing

With your permission, your submitted application, and any other information you provide at the application stage can be shared with Innovate UK’s partner organisations (each an “agency”), on an individual basis for its storage, processing and use. Any relevant information produced during the application process concerning your application can be shared by one agency with the other.


This means that any information given to or generated by Innovate UK in respect of your application may be passed on to our partner organisations, the Innovate UK KTN , Innovate UK EDGE and the Catapult network and vice versa.
Innovate UK is directly accountable to you for its holding and processing of your information, including any personal data and confidential information. It is held in accordance with its Information Management Policy.


Innovate UK and our partner organisations are directly accountable to you for their holding and processing of your information, including any personal data and confidential information. Data is held in accordance with their own policies. Accordingly, Innovate UK, and our partner organisations will be data controllers for personal data submitted during the application.


Innovate UK complies with the requirements of GDPR, and is committed to upholding the data protection principles, and protecting your information.

The Information Commissioner’s Office also has a useful guide for organisations, which outlines the data protection principles.

Welsh Government Support

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are a core component of Wales’ RD&I offer to businesses. Due to the current difficult economic climate, this offer will allow eligible SME businesses in Wales to claim 75% of the project costs of a KTP.

Partnerships jointly develop the proposal to address a specific business need and must submit their proposal for assessment by midday on 25 January 2023. Only applications received during this time will be eligible for this funding.

Any SME business based in Wales, from any sector is welcome to apply.

The Welsh Government provide more information on this initiative.

Contact us

If you need more information about how to apply, or you want to submit your application in Welsh, email support@iuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357.

Our phone lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Innovate UK is committed to making support for applicants accessible to everyone. We can provide help for applicants who face barriers when making an application. This might be as a result of a disability, neurodiversity or anything else that makes it difficult to use our services. We can also give help and make other reasonable adjustments for you if your application is successful.


If you think you need more support, it is important that you contact our Customer Support Service as early as possible during your application process. You should aim to contact us no later than 10 working days before the competition closing date.

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