Funding competition African Agriculture Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP) 2023-24 R1

UK registered higher or further education institutions, RTOs or Catapults, can apply for a share of up to £2.5m from the African agriculture KTP, working with a knowledge base and business partner registered in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya or South Africa.

This competition is now closed.

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Competition sections

Description

This Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) competition is part of the African agriculture strand of KTP. Innovate UK is investing up to £2.5 million towards the funding of projects in this strand.

The African agriculture strand of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme supports a partnership between:

  • a UK registered higher education or further education institution, research and technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult (which we will refer to as the ‘UK knowledge base’)
  • an African business or not for profit organisation (which we will refer to collectively as the ‘business partner’)
  • a knowledge base in Africa (which we will refer to as the ‘African knowledge base’)

Each application must be led by a UK registered knowledge base, working with an African business partner and African knowledge base.

The African business and knowledge base must both be based in one of the following countries:

  • Republic of Ghana
  • Federal Republic of Nigeria
  • Republic of Kenya
  • Republic of South Africa

The partnership will bring new skills and the latest academic thinking into the business partner to deliver a specific, strategic innovation project.

Your project must be in one of the following areas:

  • primary crop and livestock production, including aquaculture
  • non-food uses of crops, excluding ornamentals
  • challenges in food processing, distribution or storage, and value addition, such as through a change in the physical state or form of the product
  • improving the availability and accessibility of safe, healthy and nutritious foods

If you are from a knowledge base that has not yet developed a project, get started by reading the KTP guidance.

If you are from an African business, read the KTP guidance and then contact the Knowledge Transfer Network or a knowledge base to discuss your proposal.

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

Funding type

Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)

Project size

The project’s total costs must not exceed £250,000 and must be split equally between the UK and the African knowledge base partners at £125,000 each. The business partner is responsible for their own costs. Projects must be between 18 to 24 months.

Who can apply

Each African agriculture KTP is a partnership between the following:

  • a UK registered higher education or further education institution, research and technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult (which we will refer to as the ‘UK knowledge base’)
  • an African business or not for profit organisation (which we will refer to collectively as the ‘business partner’)
  • a knowledge base in Africa (which we will refer to as the ‘African knowledge base’)

The business and African knowledge base must both be based in one of the following countries:

  • Republic of Ghana
  • Federal Republic of Nigeria
  • Republic of Kenya
  • Republic of South Africa

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

Under current restrictions, this competition will not fund any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any Russian and Belarusian entity as lead, partner or subcontractor. This includes any goods or services originating from a Russian and Belarusian source.

Knowledge base partner

Each application must be created by a UK knowledge base, who will also lead the project. The UK knowledge base partner 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 business or not-for-profit organisation from Republic of Ghana, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Kenya or Republic of South Africa to join the application and collaborate with them on the development of the project
  • invite one African knowledge base from the same African country as the business partner to join the application and collaborate with them on the development of the project
  • invite one knowledge transfer adviser to support the application
  • ensure that neither knowledge base have ownership of 50% or more of the business partner or a controlling interest via a shareholder agreement
  • ensure associates are recruited 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 African business and knowledge base
  • 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 intellectual property (IP) agreement with the African knowledge base and 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
  • not act in any way to gain selective commercial or economic advantage from the outputs of the project

As part of their involvement in the project the knowledge base partners 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

African Business partner

We use the term ‘business partner’ for businesses and not for profit organisations. Business partners cannot work alone.

Business partners must develop the project with a UK knowledge base and a knowledge base from their own country who can provide the right skills to meet the knowledge gap within the business

We encourage business partners to approach knowledge bases directly to discuss the suitability of KTP for their specific circumstances.

The business partner must:

  • be a business, of any size, or a not-for-profit organisation registered in Republic of Ghana, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Kenya or Republic of South Africa
  • collaborate with a UK knowledge base, registered with KTP and a knowledge base from their own country
  • have 2 or more full time equivalent employees
  • determine the size of their business or group
  • declare the total number of employees within the business and if part of a group of businesses, within the group
  • complete the application form in partnership with the knowledge base partners
  • 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 IP agreement with the knowledge base before the project commences

The business partner must provide evidence of their ability to financially support their exploitation of the project. They are required to 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, location and type 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 must be declared.

Large businesses can apply if they are not part of an international group.

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

The business must be registered in their own country. This is normally demonstrated on a public register, such as on Companies House in the UK

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

African knowledge base partner

The African knowledge base partner must be a registered higher education or further education institution from the same country as the African business partner.

The African knowledge base partner must be invited into the Innovation Funding Service by the UK knowledge base partner to collaborate on a project.

UKRI will perform due diligence checks on each African knowledge base partner and may prohibit Innovate UK from working with partners it believes do not meet the principles of Trusted Research and Innovation.

Joint commitment statement and exploitation plan

Both the UK and African knowledge base partners 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.

Further information about the Subsidy Control Act 2022 requirements can be found within the Subsidy Control Act 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)

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

It is the responsibility of the UK knowledge base 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 Subsidy Control Act 2022 regime you should take independent legal advice. We cannot advise on individual eligibility or legal obligations.

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 £2.5 million in this round of the African agriculture KTP programme, which will contribute towards the total costs of the individual projects.

Funding for the African agriculture KTP comes from Innovate UK and is distributed by the UK based knowledge partner.

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

  • duration of the project
  • registered location of project

Eligible project costs will be 100% funded.

Contribution from the business partner

The business partner in your application must fully support project delivery.

The business partner must pay for:

  • 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:

  • exploit other Innovate UK or UKRI funded projects
  • comply with the grant terms and conditions of any Innovate UK or UKRI funded projects

Knowledge Transfer Advisers

Applications must be supported by an Innovate UK appointed Knowledge Transfer Adviser (KTA) who will be informed of your application. It will be withdrawn from the competition if they have not given their support.

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 adviser may choose not to support an application.

Your project

Your application must align with this scope criteria and 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, but it must show:

  • why the business needs this KTP
  • what new knowledge is required by the business
  • what new capabilities will be embedded as a result of the KTP

Your proposal must tackle one or more challenges faced by the business partner in one of the following areas:

  • primary crop and livestock production, including aquaculture
  • non-food uses of crops, excluding ornamentals
  • challenges in food processing, distribution or storage, and value addition, for example through a change in the physical state or form of the product
  • improving the availability and accessibility of safe, healthy and nutritious foods

Your project’s innovations must:

  • be sustainable in the context of environmental challenges, such as climate change and resource scarcity
  • minimise negative effects such as pollution, food loss and waste
  • promote safe, healthy and nutritious diets

You must demonstrate how the primary benefit from your project will be a contribution to international development outcomes, specifically both:

  • enhanced food and nutrition security
  • welfare of the poor in urban and rural areas in developing countries

We encourage applications from micro, small or medium enterprises (SMEs) based in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa. Large businesses can apply if they are not part of an international group.

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

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 a public sector organisation
  • 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

We are also not funding projects with the following themes:

  • forestry or ornamentals
  • wild-capture fisheries
  • equine
  • crops for energy production

13 February 2023
Competition opens
30 March 2023 11:00am
Competition closes
25 May 2023
Funders panel
8 June 2023
Feedback to applicants
22 June 2023 1:01pm
Applicants notified

Before you start

Before you apply you must read the guidance for KTP applicants and costs guidance for KTP projects, along with the information contained within the competition information page. Additional guidance is given for each question on the application form.

Before submitting, it is the lead applicant’s responsibility to make sure:

  • that all the information provided in the application is correct
  • your proposal meets the eligibility and scope criteria
  • all sections of the application are marked as complete
  • that all business partners have completed all assigned sections and accepted the terms and conditions (T&Cs)

You can reopen your application once submitted, up until the competition deadline. You must resubmit the application before the competition deadline.

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 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.

Accessibility and inclusion

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes providing support, in the form of reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us. Read more on how we are making our application process more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

You must contact us as early as possible in the application process. We recommend contacting us at least 15 working days before the competition closing date to ensure we can provide you with the most suitable support possible.

You can contact us by emailing support@iuk.ukri.org or calling 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

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.

Application Details

The application title must follow this format “UK Knowledge Base, African Knowledge Base and African Business Partner, AAKTP Year and Round”. You must use the full business name exactly as it appears on your company registration. Do not use any abbreviations.

For example: Essex University, Kenyan University of Agriculture and Shelen Limited AAKTP 23_24 R1

This competition year and round is AAKTP 23_24 R1.

If your title is not correctly formatted, your application will be withdrawn.

Project duration must be in months

Your answer can be up to 30 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:

  • why the business needs this KTP
  • what new knowledge is required by the business
  • what new capabilities will be embedded as a result of the KTP

Your answer can be up to 200 words long.

2. Application questions

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

Are you applying for the Africa Agriculture KTP?

If you select ‘No’ your application will not be considered for funding.

  • Yes
  • No

Question 2. Number of associates

How many associates do you need to support this project?

Select one:

  • 1 associate
  • 2 associates

Question 3: Domain alignment

Which of the Innovate UK domains does your KTP most closely align with?

Guidance on the domains can be found on pages 21 to 23 of the Innovate UK strategic delivery plan 2022 to 2025

Select one:

  • net zero
  • healthy living and agriculture
  • digital and technologies
  • other

Question 4. 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
  • partnership
  • public limited company
  • sole trader
  • unlimited company
  • charity
  • community interest company
  • charitable incorporated organisation
  • charitable company
  • charitable industrial and provident society
  • charitable cooperative

Question 5. 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 6. 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.

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

Select one:

  • micro
  • small
  • medium
  • large

Question 7. Business partner SIC code

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

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

Your answer can be up to 10 words long.

Question 8. Business partner registration number

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

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

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.

If your organisation is not a registered business, but is a legal entity, please include additional information on your legal status as one of your supporting documents .

Your answer can be up to 20 words long.

Question 9. Partnership Details

What is the name and the 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 UK knowledge base partner in this order. Do not include bullet points in your response:

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

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

  • registered name
  • building name or number and street
  • town or city
  • region
  • postcode
  • country

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

  • registered name
  • building name or number and street
  • town or city
  • region
  • postcode
  • country

Your answer can be up to 150 words long

Question 10. 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 11. Meeting location

Where will the business partner hold the face-to-face Project Management meetings and Local Management Committee meetings?

This is usually where the project physically takes place, or a chosen location for virtual projects. Provide the full address of the location in this order. Do not include bullet points in your response:

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

Your answer can be up to 50 words long

Question 12. Senior business employee

Who is the senior business partner employee?

Give their details in this order. Do not include bullet points in your response:

  • title
  • first name
  • surname
  • email address

Your answer can be up to 50 words long.

Question 13. Senior business employee’s background

How does the experience of the senior employee at the business make 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 14. Business partner supervisor

Who is the business partner supervisor for each associate?

Give their details in this order. Do not include bullet points in your response:

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 15. 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 16. UK Knowledge base supervisor

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

You must identify the knowledge base supervisor for each associate. If more than 2 supervisors are required, you must create a separate document listing their details and background and add it as a supporting document.

Give their details in this order. Do not include bullet points in your response:

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 17. UK 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 18. UK 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 order. Do not include bullet points in your response:

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

Your answer can be up to 50 words long

Question 19. UK 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 20. UK Partnership administrator

Who will be the UK 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 order. Do not include bullet points in your response:

  • 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 21. UK Person responsible for submitting claims

Who will be the UK 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 order. Do not include bullet points in your response:

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

Your answer can be up to 50 words long

Question 22. African 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 order. Do not include bullet points in your response:

  • title
  • first name
  • family name
  • job title
  • email address

Your answer can be up to 50 words long

Question 23. African 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 24. African Knowledge base supervisor

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

You must identify the knowledge base supervisor for each associate. If more than 2 supervisors are required, you must create a separate document listing their details and background. This must be uploaded as a supporting document.

Give their details in this order. Do not include bullet points in your response:

Knowledge base supervisor for associate 1

  • title
  • first name
  • family name
  • job title
  • email address

Knowledge base supervisor for associate 2

  • title
  • first name
  • family name
  • job title
  • email address

Your answer can be up to 50 words long

Question 25. African 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 300 words long.

Question 26. Business area

What are the African businesses current activities?

Explain:

  • current revenue generating activities
  • current business objectives

If the business partner is not 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 200 words long.

Question 27. 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 400 words long.

Question 28. Future Strategic aims

What are the future strategic aims of the business partner? How does this project address these needs?

Explain:

  • what are the businesses future strategic plans
  • how the project aims to address those
  • why this approach is innovative to the business
  • what new capabilities will be developed because of this project?

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 29. Use of knowledge, technology and expertise

What missing knowledge, technology or expertise does the business partner need from the knowledge base partner? How will this be transferred during your project and beyond?

Explain how the new knowledge, technology or expertise will be:

  • used within your project
  • embedded in the business for use beyond the lifetime of your project
  • commercially exploited by the business during and beyond the lifetime of your project

Your answer can be up to 300 words long.

Question 30. 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 200 words long.

Question 31. Market opportunity and Route to market

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

Describe:

  • your target market
  • the size of your target market
  • the percentage of the market you aim to capture
  • your market strategy to achieve this share
  • who your competitors are and what share of the market they have
  • your route to market
  • obstacles to market entry

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 32. Commercial Impacts

What are the likely impacts of your project?

The response to this question complements the figures in the Commercial Impacts table, uploaded as part of this question.

Explain:

  • the income generating activities arising from the KTP
  • the assumptions you used to generate the revenue and profit figures in the commercial impacts table
  • the formulas you use to calculate the revenue and net profit before tax figures

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 500 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?

Explain:

  • the additional actions required
  • what are the costs to bring the innovation to market
  • how are you going to fund the costs of your innovation
  • what is your budget for each stage of the innovation process and how will you support these costs

Where applicable include within the finance table, details of any additional company contributions and financing required by the business during the life of the project.

Your answer can be up to 300 words long.

Question 34. Additional benefits

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

Describe and quantify:

  • if your project aligns with any of the United Nations sustainable development goals
  • the wider societal and environmental benefits
  • additional economic benefits including the number of new and safeguarded jobs
  • any other benefits that this project will deliver that may help your case for support

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 35. 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 200 words long.

Question 36. 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 200 words long.

Question 37. Associates Skills and Attributes

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
  • rationale for salary requested

Explain the rationale for the budget request being made for associate employment costs. This must be based on evidence that it is appropriate for the industry or business in which the KTP will take place. Justifications relying solely on pay grades within the knowledge base or qualifications, will be withdrawn from the competition.

You may submit an additional document containing evidence and upload it as part of your supporting documents.

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 200 words long.

Question 38. Knowledge base partner’s challenges

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

Explain for each knowledge base partner:

  • what challenge the project offers the academic team
  • why the academic team want to undertake this project

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 39. Knowledge Base partner impacts and outcomes

What impacts and outcomes does each knowledge base partner expect to arise as a result of this partnership?

Explain the additional impacts and outcomes the KTP will bring each knowledge base partner such as:

  • capability development
  • impact on teaching
  • academic career development
  • future funding opportunities
  • publication opportunities, including the number of papers likely to be submitted

Where applicable, you must cross-reference to the work plan.

Your answer can be up to 200 words long.

Question 40. 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 41. 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.

Each member of the LMC must be listed in the Project Details section of the application. Once recruited the associate would be expected to attend LMC meetings.

Members of the LMC are:

  • senior business employee
  • knowledge base supervisors Africa and UK – associate 1
  • knowledge base supervisors Africa and UK – associate 2
  • business supervisor – associate 1
  • business supervisor – associate 2
  • knowledge base leads for Africa and UK
  • knowledge transfer adviser
  • knowledge base project administrator
  • associates

You must select one answer:

  • Yes
  • No

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

Question 42. 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 43. 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 44. Joint commitment statement

The knowledge base partners 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 45. Potential supporters

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

  • UKRI KTP (Innovate UK)

In addition to the financial supporters, you can select relevant Innovate UK Domain teams that may wish to support your project:

  • IUK net zero team
  • IUK healthy living and agriculture team
  • IUK digital and technologies team

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.

Your answer can be up to 30 words long.

Question 46. 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.

Question 47. 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

Question 48. 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 49. 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.

3. Finances

All projects must complete the AAKTP Budget Table and Justification form provided by your nominated Knowledge Transfer Adviser and upload it as one of your supporting documents.

The UK 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 UK 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
  • total number of staff within the business and group

The UK 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 virtual business

The eligible costs for virtual businesses are different from those that operate a traditional business model. These differences reflect the ways in which virtual businesses operate and the additional flexibility it offers around location of staff.

Please ensure you read the costs guidance document carefully and discuss the differences with your knowledge base and knowledge transfer adviser before submitting your application.

Supervisors Workshop

If your application is successful, the business and academic supervisors are expected to attend the Supervisors Workshop.

These half day workshops are run by Innovate UK KTN and delivered online.

Workshops generally take place within 1 month of the knowledge base receiving notification that the project will receive funding. Successful applicants will be notified of the dates.

Data sharing

This competition is jointly operated by Innovate UK’s partner organisations (each an “agency”).

Any relevant information submitted and produced during the application process concerning your application can be shared by one agency with the other, for its individual storage, processing and use.

This means that any information given to or generated by Innovate UK in respect of your application may be passed on to the Innovate UK KTN , Innovate UK EDGE and the Catapult network and vice versa. This would include, but is not restricted to:

  • the information stated on the application, including the personal details of all applicants
  • scoring and feedback on the application
  • information received during the management and administration of the grant, such as Monitoring Officer reports and Independent Accountant Reports

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’s Privacy Policy is accessible here.

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.

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).

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