Funding competition Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnerships 6 (AKT 6)

UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £2.5 million to fund innovation projects with businesses.

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Competition sections

Description

The Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) scheme allows a UK Knowledge Base to work with a UK registered business (which we will refer to collectively as the ‘Business Partner’ from now on), to deliver a short, rapid and targeted intervention. The Knowledge Base partner should be either a UK higher education (HE) or further education (FE) institution, research and technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult.

This intervention will accelerate the evaluation or development of an innovation project or concept, with the potential for a significant impact for the Business Partner. Projects can be open in scope but you must first consider how it will align with the Industrial Strategy’s six prioritised sectors by Innovate UK. These are:

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Clean Energy Industries
  • Creative Industries
  • Defence
  • Digital and Technologies
  • Life Sciences

If your project does not align with one of the six priority sectors, it may still be eligible if it is exploiting a novel area of research and the Business Partner meets the criteria for a high growth potential.

Priority will be given to projects that align with the Industrial Strategy.

Each Innovate UK AKT project will establish a new partnership or consolidate an existing collaboration between the Knowledge Base and the Business Partner through knowledge exchange activity.

The application must be submitted by the Knowledge Base partner, but will be developed in partnership with the Business Partner. The Knowledge Base will be the sole grant recipient.

If you are a business and do not yet have a relationship with a Knowledge Base partner, contact your local Knowledge Base to discuss this opportunity in more detail.Each application must be led by a Knowledge Base, working with a Business Partner.

In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. This competition has a funding limit, so we may not be able to fund all the proposed projects. It may be the case that your project scores highly, but we are still unable to fund it.

We consider a range of factors when determining whether to provide funding to applicants. This includes an assessment of prior conduct, such as any outstanding payments owed to Innovate UK or UKRI. Such factors may influence the funding decision, potentially resulting in a refusal of funding or an award subject to additional scrutiny.

This competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated in this Innovate UK competition brief. We cannot guarantee other government or third party sites will always show the correct competition information.

Visit the AKT website to find out more about the scheme.

Funding type

Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)

Project size

A project’s total eligible grant costs are £35,000 Projects must be for a duration of 3-months only. A proportion of the Knowledge Base partners’ costs will be funded by Innovate UK.

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 making reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.

You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance.

We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this competition’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the competition deadline.

You can contact Innovate UK by email or call 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Who can apply

Through the AKT programme Innovate UK seeks to support innovative businesses with the ambition to scale and grow in the UK.

Each Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) is a partnership between the following:

  • a UK Knowledge Base, acting as lead organisation and submitting the application
  • a UK registered business with four or more full time employees

The following organisations are specifically excluded:

  • UKRI organisations and businesses owned or operated either wholly or partially by UKRI or one of its councils
  • Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA)
  • central government departments and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
  • charitable and third sector organisations

Any organisation eligible to become a KTP Knowledge Base may not apply into AKT as a Business Partner.

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 eligible to register to participate in the KTP programme, but does not have to be registered with KTP
  • invite one UK registered business into the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) application
  • Invite the AKT Monitoring Officer 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 fair manner
  • recruit an Associate of either 0.5 or 1 FTE
  • agree to provide at least 0.25 day per week of academic support for the Associate
  • complete the application form in partnership with the business
  • 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
  • Submit a current non-fEC exemption certificate with each application if you are using the non-fEC costing model in accordance with the AKT Cost guidance
  • provide the project secretariat
  • If applicable, reach an intellectual property (IP) agreement with the Business Partner before the project commences
  • 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.

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 Knowledge Bases directly to discuss the suitability of AKT for their specific circumstances.

To collaborate with a Knowledge Base, the Business Partner must:

  • be a UK registered business and have four 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 partner
  • provide the Knowledge Base with evidence of their ability to financially support their contribution
  • be able to host the Associate and provide them with supervisory support
  • if appliable, reach a written IP agreement with the Knowledge Base before the project commences

The AKT 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.

Where a business is not registered at Companies House the business must provide evidence of the legal status and ownership of the business.

Subcontractors

Subcontractors are not allowed in this competition.

Sanctions

This competition will not fund you, or provide any financial benefit to any individual or entities directly or indirectly involved with you, which would expose Innovate UK or any direct or indirect beneficiary of funding from Innovate UK to UK Sanctions. For example, through any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any entity as lead, partner or subcontractor related to these countries, administrations and terrorist groups.

Use of animals in research and innovation

Innovate UK expects and supports the provision and safeguarding of welfare standards for animals used in research and innovation, according to best practice and up to date guidance.

Applicants must ensure that all of the proposed work within projects, both in the UK and internationally, will comply with the UKRI guidance on the use of animals in research and innovation.

Any projects selected for funding which involve animals will be asked to provide additional information on welfare and ethical considerations, as well as compliance with any relevant legislation as part of the project start-up process. This information will be reviewed before an award is made.

No subsidy

No subsidy

This competition has been designed to provide funding that is not classed by Innovate UK as a subsidy.

Your eligibility to be given an award on a ‘No Subsidy’ basis will be determined by Innovate UK after you have submitted your application.

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).

It is the responsibility of the lead organisation to make sure all collaborators in the project remain compliant with the ‘No Subsidy’ status they are awarded.

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.

EU State aid rules now only apply in limited circumstances. See the Windsor Framework to check if these rules apply to your organisation.

In the ‘Project details’ section of your application you will be asked questions to indicate if State Aid or Subsidy applies to your organisation.


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

Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) is closely related to Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme and shares a number of common elements, AKT does hold its own Cost Guidance, please ensure you refer to the AKT Cost Guidance.

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 a budget of up to £2.5 million for this round of the AKT programme, which will contribute towards the total eligible costs of the individual projects.

Eligible costs depend on a number of factors, including:

  • where the project will be located
  • where the Associate is based
  • if your business operates virtually

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

Contribution from the Business Partner

There is no upper limit to project costs, but any costs over £35,000 must be met by the Business Partner.

Project costs allocated to travel, subsistence, consumables and estates must not exceed a combined amount of £3,500. Costs exceeding this amount must be met by the Business Partner and listed as part of their additional Business Partner contribution.

The Business Partner must commit to a minimum 10% cash contribution to the project in addition to resourcing its own project costs. The Knowledge Base is responsible for recovering this.

Budget Exclusions

The following are ineligible for grant support:

  • costs for IT equipment for example, computers, cloud storage, software
  • equipment purchases or the purchase goods used for promotional purposes, only consumable costs are eligible for support
  • payments in any form for participants in trials, focus groups or similar
  • agency fees from outside the Knowledge Base

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

All applicants should read and understand the following:

If you have any questions regarding the rules of this competition, you should contact the AKT competition team akt@iukbc.org.uk, prior to submission. By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you are entering a competitive process and that you will abide by the outcome of the competition.

Number of applications

Each Knowledge Base can collaborate with any number of Business Partners.

Previous applications

You cannot use a previously submitted application to apply for this competition. All applications are scanned and compared, electronically checking for similarities.

We will not award you funding if you have previously:

  • submitted the same application
  • failed to exploit other Innovate UK or UKRI funded projects
  • not complied with the grant terms and conditions of any Innovate UK or UKRI funded projects

Your project

Your application must be for a specific, strategic innovation project that tackles one or more challenges faced by the Business Partner. Projects can be open in scope but you must first consider how it will align with the Industrial Strategy’s six prioritised sectors by Innovate UK. These are:

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Clean Energy Industries
  • Creative Industries
  • Defence
  • Digital and Technologies
  • Life Sciences

If your project does not align with one of the six priority sectors, it may still be eligible if it is exploiting a novel area of research and the Business Partner meets the criteria for high growth potential. Priority will be given to projects that align with the Industrial strategy.

In line with other Innovate UK competitions, this is a competitive process and projects will be scored against a quality threshold, which they must pass to be considered for funding. Projects will then be chosen initially by rank order, but Innovate UK also reserves the right to apply a portfolio approach to making awards.

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 ineligible, for example, 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

19 May 2026
Online briefing event: watch the recording
Briefing slides are now available to download from supporting information
26 May 2026
Competition opens
15 July 2026 11:00am
Competition closes
24 September 2026
Applicants notified

Before you start

Before you apply, you must read the guidance on applying for a competition on the Innovation Funding Service competition information page, along with the AKT6 Cost Guidance and AKT6 FAQ. You should also watch or listen to the AKT6 Web Briefing which can be found on the AKT 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 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 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 three sections:

  1. Project details.
  2. Application questions.
  3. Finances.

If your application is in scope, the assessors will score your application holistically. They will score on:

  • innovation
  • challenges and risks
  • need for business-academic partnership
  • project outcomes

Each of these areas will be scored out of 10 marks, for a maximum total of 40 marks.

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 making reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.

You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance.

We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this competition’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the competition deadline.

You can contact Innovate UK by email or call 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

1. Project details

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

Do not include any website addresses (URLs) in your answers.

Application team

Decide which organisations will work with you on the project. Invite people from those organisations to help complete the application. The allocated Monitoring Officer for AKT 6 is Lucia Vinolo Locubiche. You must invite Lucia as the knowledge Transfer Advisor (KTA) using the email address lucia.locubiche@iukbc.org.uk.

Project Delivery Team

The project delivery team should list the names and roles of the individuals who will deliver the project.

Application Details

The application title must follow this format “Knowledge Base and Business Partner AKT6”. You must use the full business name exactly as it appears on your Companies House registration. Do not use any abbreviations.

For example: University of Innovation and Shelen Limited AKT 6.

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

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:

  • What is the identified need that is driving the innovation?
  • What solution will be developed utilising the innovation?
  • What opportunities will be realised if the solution is successfully deployed?

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 Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) project
  • how the project will accelerate access to Knowledge Base expertise and evaluate or develop an innovative idea for the Business Partner
  • how it will stimulate demand within the Business Partner to deliver further innovations and accelerate delivery through partnership with the UK’s Knowledge Base

Your answer can be up to 200 words long.

2. Application questions

You must answer all questions.

You can name an Associate in your application.

The assessors will score all of your questions except questions 1 to 5 which are not scored.

You must not include any website addresses or links (URLs) in your answers. Any website addresses or URLs included, will not be viewed or opened.

Question 1. Animal testing (not scored)

Will your project involve any trials with animals or animal testing?

You must select one option:

  • Yes
  • No

We will only support innovation projects conducted to the highest standards of animal welfare.

Further information for proposals involving animal testing is available at the UKRI Good Research Hub and NC3R’s animal welfare guidance.

Question 2. Permits and licences (not scored)

Will you have the correct permits and licences in place to carry out your project?

We are unable to fund projects which do not have the correct permits or licences in place by your project start date.

You must select one option:

  • Yes
  • No
  • In the process of being applied for
  • Not applicable

Question 3. International collaboration (not scored)

Does your proposed work involve any international collaboration or engagement?

You must provide details of any expected international collaboration or engagement.

You must include a list of the names and the countries, any international project co-leads, project partners, visiting researchers, or other collaborators are based in.

You must also include details of any subcontractors or service providers.

If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration or engagement, your answer must confirm this.

Question 4. Export licence (not scored)

You must indicate whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance.

You must select one option:

  • Yes
  • No

Question 5. Trusted Research and Innovation (not scored)

You must explain if your proposed project work relates to UKRI’s Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) Principles, including:

  • a list of any dual-use (both military and non-military) applications to your research
  • a list of the areas where your project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act
  • whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance and the status of any applications
  • a list of any items or substances on the UK Strategic Export Control List

If your proposed work does not relate to UKRI’s TR&I Principles, your answer must confirm this.

We may ask you to provide additional TR&I information at a later date, in line with UKRI TR&I Principles and funding terms and conditions.

Question 6: Associate Identification

Do you know who the Associate for this project will be?

You will be asked to confirm this information during project start-up.

  • Yes
  • No

Question 7. Number of Associates

How many Associates do you need to support this project?

Select one option:

  • one Associate
  • two Associates

Question 8. Which of the IS 6 sectors described within the industrial strategy does your AKT most closely align with?

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Clean Energy Industries
  • Creative Industries
  • Defence
  • Digital and Technologies
  • Life Sciences

Question 9. Business partner type

What is the Business Partner type?

This refers to the applicant business not the parent group.

Select one option:

  • limited company
  • limited liability partnership
  • partnership
  • public limited company
  • sole trader
  • unlimited company
  • Other

Question 10. Project Duration

Can you confirm that this project will be 3 months in duration?

Select one:

  • Yes
  • No

Question 11: Number of business employees

Does the Business Partner have four or more FTE or equivalent?

The Business Partner requires a minimum of four FTE to be eligible to participate in this competition.

  • Yes
  • No

Question 12. 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, refer to the company accounts guidance.

Select one option:

  • micro
  • small
  • medium
  • large

Question 13. Business Partner SIC code

What is the Business Partner’s Standard Industrial Code (SIC)?

Your answer can be up to 10 words long.

Question 14. 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.

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, include additional information on your legal status as one of your supporting documents .

Your answer can be up to 20 words long.

Question 15. 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 more about the geographical location of all participants of a project.

Provide the full registered name and address of the Knowledge Base partner in this order. Do not include bullet points in your response:

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

Provide the full registered name and address of the Business Partner in this order. Do not include bullet points in your response:

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

Your answer can be up to 100 words long.

Question 16. Business Partner supervisor

Who is the Business Partner supervisor ?

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

Business Partner supervisor for Associate one

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

Your answer can be up to 50 words long.

Question 17. 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 one Business Partner supervisor, you must give the background details for each person.

Your answer can be up to 250 words long.

Question 18. Knowledge base supervisor

Who is the Knowledge base supervisor?

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

Your answer can be up to 50 words long.

Question 19. Knowledge base supervisor’s background

What is the Knowledge Base supervisor’s background?

For each Knowledge Base supervisor:

  • describe how their subject knowledge, academic interest and experience are relevant to the project
  • give evidence that they have the necessary skills to contribute to the successful delivery of the project

If your project has more than one Knowledge Base supervisor, you must give the background details for each person.

Your answer can be up to 250 words long.

Question 20. Business area

What are the 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, you must also indicate the broader business activities undertaken by the group.

Your answer can be up to 100 words long.

Question 21. Innovation

What is the innovation and what is the potential for significant impact on the business? This may address an external market opportunity or an internal opportunity within the business.

Explain:

  • the needs that are driving the innovation
  • how the project aligns to an internal need or external market
  • what opportunities will be realised if the solution is successfully deployed

Your answer can be up to 300 words long.

Question 22. Challenges and Risks

What are the challenges and risks associated with developing the innovation for the business?

Explain:

  • what are the challenges and risks associated with delivery
  • if the acceptance, or non-acceptance, of the innovation (either internally or externally) have been considered
  • if there are any IP related challenges or risks

Your answer can be up to 300 words long.

Question 23. Need for Business-Academic Partnership

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

You must decide what:

  • skills, expertise, knowledge or capability the business needs to realise value from the innovation, and to what extent this funding will accelerate or enable the project
  • skills, expertise, knowledge or capability the academics have that will support the development of the innovation
  • options have been considered to continue the collaboration post project

Your answer can be up to 300 words long.

Question 24. Project Outcomes

If the development of the innovation is successful, what is the potential business impact?

Explain:

  • the potential internal or external and direct or indirect commercial impacts
  • the post project actions and investments that may be necessary by the business to extract optimum value from the innovation
  • the potential for additional environmental and societal impacts or benefits

Your answer can be up to 300 words long.

Question 25. Project Management

How will the project be managed and monitored to ensure an effective three way partnership?

It is expected that the project team will meet at least once every two weeks, either virtually or in person and meet at least once in person during the project.

Describe the regularity and frequency of meetings:

  • at the Knowledge Base
  • at the business

Your answer can be up to 250 words long.

Question 26. Project plan

You must give a high level summary of the plan to deliver the AKT project with a maximum of three Project Stages and a maximum of three tasks per Project Stage.

You must give an indication of the number of weeks to be spent on each task. An additional work plan is not required. You must use this section only to outline your plans for delivery.

Your answer can be up to 300 words long.

Question 27. 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

Your answer can be up to 200 words long.

Question 28. Knowledge Base Declaration

You must confirm that as the Knowledge Base applicant, you will recover the Business Partner cash contribution in full.

You must select one:

  • Yes
  • No

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

Question 29. Declaration of accuracy

You must agree to the following declaration.

The partnership confirms that the proposal meets the overarching criteria for AKT 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.

  • Yes
  • No

Question 30. Applications from the Business Partner for KTP or AKT

Has the Business Partner applied for a KTP or Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) project?

You must include projects submitted by the Business Partner in the same round as this application and applications into any KTP or AKT competitions in the last five years.

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

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

  • the application reference number for each submitted project
  • details of how this application relates to the other submitted applications
  • details of how this project differentiates or builds upon previous projects, or complements other applications submitted in this round that include the Business Partner
  • a brief description of what benefits were gained by the Business Partner from previous submissions or a brief description of the changes made to projects that have previously been submitted but were not funded

We will not support a project that repeats activity undertaken in a previous KTP or AKT 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.

Your answer can be up to 250 words long.

Question 31. Previous funding information

Have any of the partners previously received any non-KTP or non-AKT awards that relate to this application within the last five 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.

3. Finances

You must read the AKT6 Cost Guidance and AKT6 FAQ document before completing this section.

All applications must be made using the full economic costing (FEC) model table in ‘Your project finances’. Knowledge Bases that are not using the FEC funding cost model, must upload the FEC exemption certificate.

The grant rate for all applicants is 90%.

Knowledge Bases must complete the ‘Your Project Costs table’, and where required list items for which funding is requested. It will support your application if you include additional explanation for the costs requested by responding ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Do your project costs exceed the allowed limits?’

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

The categories are:

  • Associate employment costs
  • Associate development
  • travel and subsistence
  • consumables
  • academic supervisor costs
  • additional Associate costs
  • estates

Do not input any costs into the ‘other’ category.

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

The figure in the Finance Summary table ‘Funding sought’ by the Knowledge Base must not exceed £35,000, the maximum grant payable. Additional business contributions must be listed in the ‘Additional Costs section’ of the Knowledge Base project costs.

Business Partners must register on the application system to complete their contribution to the ‘Your project finance’ section, in line with the AKT 6 Cost Guidance.

The minimum 10% Business Partner contribution will be applied evenly across all cost categories.

The total T&S, Estates or Consumables costs must not exceed £3,500.

In this section, where a justification is required, please provide a breakdown of each cost, evidencing how this has been calculated. Provide a breakdown of items for which funding is requested and explain why the costs are needed for this project.

Please provide the total costs for the Knowledge Base. Please do not make any deductions for the Business Partner cash contribution.

Any applications which do not meet the competition cost rules will not progress to assessment and applications may be rejected if competition rules are not met.

Please note that the minimum 10% Business Partner contribution will be applied evenly across all cost categories. If the total T&S, Estates and/or Consumables costs exceed the maximum project cost amount of £3,500 this must be added to the Additional Business Partner contribution.

The Knowledge Base partner must ensure the additional business cost estimates section is completed.

Using the ‘Your Organisation’ tables within the Business Partner Finance section complete mandatory fields, in line with the AKT6 Cost Guidance.

The Business Partner does not need to provide:

  • financial position for the current financial year, if the latest filed accounts are more than nine months old at the date of the competitions funders panel
  • financial position over the preceding two 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 Accelerated Knowledge Transfer programme

About employing the Associate

AKTs are typically advertised on a full-time basis. The Associate role will be supported through project costs of up to 1 Full Time Equivalent (FTE), for the duration of the project. The Associate role can be delivered by a maximum of 2 people. The Associate role can be delivered virtually; however, applications should

demonstrate how the project team will work and communicate effectively as a team.

To find out more about AKT, visit the AKT webpage.

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, for the duration of the project.

Briefing recording and slides

Online briefing event: watch the recording
Briefing slides are available to download:

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 Innovate UK, Innovate UK Business Connect, Innovate UK Business Growth, the Catapult Network, and any KTP financial supporters 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 Service Provider reports and Independent Accountant Reports

Innovate UK may also share any relevant information submitted and produced during the application process concerning your application with Innovate UK’s national and regional UK third parties and partners who may contact you. For more information see how we handle grant applicant and grant holder data.

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

Innovate UK Business Connect Privacy Policy

Catapult Network Privacy Policy

Business Growth Privacy Policy

Welsh Government Privacy Policy

Invest Northern Ireland Privacy Policy

Innovate UK complies with the requirements of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and is committed to upholding data protection legislation, and protecting your information in accordance with data protection principles.

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 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Innovate UK or any of our partners will not tolerate abusive language in any written or verbal correspondence, applications, social media or any other form that might affect staff.

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