Funding competition African agriculture knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2020 to 2021, round 4
UK registered higher or further education institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £2 million to help fund an innovation project with another knowledge base and a business partner registered in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya or South Africa.
- Competition opens: Tuesday 6 October 2020
- Competition closes: Wednesday 28 October 2020 11:00am
This competition is now closed.
Competition sections
Description
The African agriculture strand of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme supports a partnership between:
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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’)
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an African business or not-for-profit organisation (which we will refer to collectively as the ‘business partner’)
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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 or Republic of South Africa
The partnership brings new skills and the latest academic thinking into the business partner to deliver a specific, strategic innovation project. The knowledge base partner will recruit 1 or 2 graduates (known as ‘associates’) to work on the project.
In this round Innovate UK is investing up to £2 million towards the funding of projects.
Each application must be led by a UK registered knowledge base, working with an African business partner and African knowledge base. 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 guidance then contact the Knowledge Transfer Network or a knowledge base.
By applying for this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. The competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated. It takes time to prepare an application. If yours will not be ready before the close date, please apply to a later round.
Funding type
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)
Project size
We will consider partially funding project costs of any amount if we judge the costs to be appropriate. Typically projects cost no more than £125,000 per year. Projects are fully funded by Innovate UK.
Who can apply
This award is provided on a non-aid basis. This means the knowledge base partner must publish or make openly available, on a non-selective basis, all project outputs. If the business partner decides to commercially exploit the project outputs, it can only do so with no selective advantage.
Each African agriculture KTP is a partnership between the following:
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a UK knowledge base, which will be the lead organisation and submit the application
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an African knowledge base and business partner, both in one of the following countries: Republic of Ghana, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Kenya or Republic of South Africa
Typically projects last 24 months, depending on the project requirements.
KTP does not support projects with public sector organisations.
UK knowledge base partner
Each application must be created by a UK knowledge base, with the help of a knowledge transfer adviser.
The UK knowledge base must lead the project and must:
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be a UK registered higher education (HE) or further education (FE) institution, RTO or Catapult
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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
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invite one African knowledge base from the same African country to join the application and collaborate with them on the development of the project
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invite one knowledge transfer adviser to join the application
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not act in any way to gain selective commercial or economic advantage from the outputs of the project
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allow associates to carry out the majority of the project at the business partner’s premises
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make sure the application is completed and submitted before the competition closes
African business partner
African business partners can work with knowledge bases of their choice, one from the UK and one from their own country. We encourage business partners to approach knowledge bases directly.
To collaborate with the knowledge bases, the business partner must:
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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
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have more than 2 employees
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demonstrate its ability to financially support its contribution to the project
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be invited by the UK knowledge base and complete its parts of the application
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provide business finance information for the past 3 years
The definition KTP uses for ‘not-for-profit organisation’ includes social enterprises and charities.
We use the term ‘business partner’ for both businesses and not-for-profit organisations.
Funding
We will consider partially funding project costs of any amount if we judge the costs to be appropriate. Typically, projects cost about £125,000 per year.
Find out which project costs are eligible for funding.
Contribution from Innovate UK
Innovate UK has allocated up to £2 million in this round of the African agriculture KTP programme, which will contribute towards the total costs of the individual projects.
Funding for African agriculture KTP comes through Innovate UK from the UK Global Challenge Research Fund.
Projects are fully funded.
Contribution from the business partner
The business partner must fund the time spent on the project by their own staff and other non-eligible costs such as the purchase of capital equipment.
Non-aid
This competition provides funding that is classed as ‘non-aid’. The business partner should seek independent legal advice on what this means for it, before applying.
Non-aid is only granted to organisations which declare that they will not use the funding:
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in any way which gives them selective economic or commercial advantage
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in any other way which would determine the funding as state aid as defined by the EC
It is important to note that it is the activity the business partner intends to perform in the project which is assessed as eligible for non-aid, and not the business as an entity.
Application rules
Multiple applications
Each knowledge base can collaborate on any number of applications.
Each African business partner (including separate businesses with a business group) can take part in up to 4 KTP funded projects at any one time. Additional applications may be allowed at the discretion of the programme manager. You must provide justification by email to support@innovateuk.ukri.org at least 20 working days before the competition closes. We will decide whether to approve your request.
Previously submitted applications
You cannot use a previously submitted application to apply for this competition.
We will not award you funding if you have:
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failed to exploit a previously funded project
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failed to comply with grant terms and conditions
Your project
Your project must align with the scope of the ‘Agri-tech catalyst round 9: agriculture and food systems innovation, late stage’ competition. Visit the agri-tech catalyst round 9 competition page.
Your application must be for a specific, strategic innovation project that tackles one or more challenges faced by the business partner. It can be any kind of project but it must show:
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that it helps the business with a real need
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how it fits the strategic aims of the business partner
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there is a genuine market opportunity and route to market
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how the knowledge gained will be embedded within the business partner
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the commercial impact for the business partner, and any wider impacts
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that you have a clear understanding of what qualifications, skills, attributes and experience the associate will need
The UK knowledge base, African knowledge base and the business partner must sign the KTP joint commitment statement.
You must deliver an exploitation plan during your project and you will need to share your initial plan as part of your application.
Projects we will not fund
We are not funding:
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projects which are classed as state aid
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undertakings which gain a selective economic or commercial advantage from the funding
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research projects
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projects that are not strategic for the business partner
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projects that work with public sector organisations
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projects that do not demonstrate a genuine market opportunity
We are also not funding projects with the following themes:
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forestry or ornamentals
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wild-capture fisheries
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equine
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crops for energy production
- 7 January 2020
- Funder's panel
- 6 October 2020
- Competition opens
- 28 October 2020 11:00am
- Competition closes
- 14 January 2021 3:24pm
- Applicants notified
Before you start
You must read the guidance for KTP applicants before you apply.
The assessors will score your overall application holistically. They will score on:
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impact
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challenge
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innovation
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cohesiveness
They will score each of these 4 areas out of 10 marks (for a maximum total of 40 marks). They will also take into account the financial viability of the overall project. You will not be funded if you have failed to meet all the eligibility rules.
What we ask you
The application is split into 3 sections:
- Project details.
- Application questions.
- Finances.
1. Project details
This section provides background for the assessors and is not scored.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Please complete the EDI survey and then select yes in the application question. We collect and report on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) data to address under-representation in business innovation and ensure equality, diversity and inclusion across all our activities.
The survey will ask you questions on your gender, age, ethnicity and disability status. You will always have the option to ‘prefer not to say’ if you do not feel comfortable sharing this information.
Public description
Your answer can be up to 400 words long.
If your application is successful, Innovate UK will make use of this public description to comply with government requirements. Summarise the project goals. Please ensure it is suitable for public disclosure. We reserve the right to amend the description before publication if necessary but will consult you about any changes.
Scope
Describe how your project fits the scope of the competition. If your project is not in scope it will not be eligible for funding.
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
2. Application questions
Specialist knowledge transfer advisers are available to help you with your application. Contact the Knowledge Transfer Network for more information about African agriculture KTPs.
You must not name the associate in your application or include any website addresses (URLs) in your answers
Question 1. Number of associates
How many associates do you need to support this project?
You can have up to 2.
Question 2. Where will the associates be based?
Will the associates be based at the business partner’s address provided in question 6? If not, provide the full address for each associate, including:
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town or city
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county
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postcode
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country
Select from the following:
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limited company
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limited liability partnership (LLP)
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not for profit
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partnership
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public limited company
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sole trader
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unlimited company
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other
Give the size of the business partner’s organisation. If the business partner is part of a group give the size of the overall group.
Select from the following:
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micro
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small
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medium
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large
We use the EU size definitions.
What area does the business partner work in? Clearly state its revenue generating activities.
If the business partner is not yet generating revenues please 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 800 words long.
Provide the full registered address of the business partner including:
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town or city
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county
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postcode
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country
Enter the business partner’s Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code.
Provide details of the senior employee at the business partner who is committing its resources and finances to the project or projects.
Give their:
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title
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first name
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surname
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job title
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email address
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phone number
The individual named must:
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demonstrate the business partner or its group’s commitment to the partnership
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provide evidence of the authority received to commit its resources to support the delivery of the projects
Your answer can be up to 800 words long.
Which business partner employee will supervise the associate on each of the projects? If you are doing 2 projects you can use the same person for both of them.
Give their:
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title
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first name
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surname
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job title
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email address
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phone number
Which knowledge base partner employee for the UK knowledge base will give the associate academic supervision on this project? If you are doing 2 projects you can use the same person for both of them.
Give their:
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title
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first name
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surname
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job title
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email address
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phone number
Which knowledge base partner employee for the African knowledge base will give the associate academic supervision on this project? If you are doing 2 projects you can use the same person for both of them.
Give their:
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title
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first name
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surname
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job title
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email address
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phone number
For the UK knowledge base supervisor:
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describe how their research interests and experience are relevant to the project
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give evidence that they are the right person to supervise the associate
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
For the African knowledge base supervisor:
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describe how their research interests and experience are relevant to the project
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give evidence that they are the right person to supervise the associate
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
Who will be the knowledge base lead for the UK? The knowledge base lead is a senior academic on the project.
Give their:
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title
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first name
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surname
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job title
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email address
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phone number
Who will be the African knowledge base lead? The knowledge base lead is a senior academic on the project.
Give their:
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title
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first name
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surname
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job title
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email address
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phone number
How are the UK knowledge base lead’s research interests and experience relevant to the project?
Provide evidence why they are the right person for the role.
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
How are the African knowledge base lead’s research interests and experience relevant to the project?
Provide evidence why they are the right person for the role.
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
How will the associate or associates be supervised?
Associate supervision is critical to the success of any partnership. We expect the majority of the project to take place at the address you have given in question 2. Each associate should be supervised by the African knowledge base supervisor for at least half a day each week or one day a fortnight (excluding travelling time).
If the associate spends any time at the African knowledge base, the business partner supervisor must make a similar commitment.
You must ask your knowledge transfer adviser what level of supervision is appropriate for your partnership.
Your answer can be up to 800 words long.
Who will be the partnership administrator at the UK knowledge base? 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:
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title
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first name
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surname
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organisation
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job title
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email address
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phone number
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town or city
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county
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postcode
Provide details of the person responsible for submitting claims on behalf of the UK knowledge base partner.
Give their:
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title
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first name
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surname
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organisation
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job title
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email address
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phone number
Explain how this project fits with the strategic aims of the business partner.
Explain:
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why this project is important to the business partner
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the business vision that this partnership addresses
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how this KTP will make a significant difference to this business partner
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
What knowledge or expertise does the business partner currently lack that it will need to carry out this project?
What knowledge, technology or skills does the business partner need from the knowledge base partner?
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
How will the knowledge and expertise transferred during the project be embedded and exploited within the business partner?
Demonstrate how the knowledge and expertise will stay in the business beyond the lifetime of the project, and how it will continue to boost the business's success.
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
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 this could not be delivered 'off the shelf' or through consultancy.
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
What challenges does the business partner have that will be addressed through the partnership?
Explain why the solution moves the business partner, or one of the business partner’s products, forward in such a way that it challenges current or accepted practice in the business partner or sector.
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
What makes this a challenging project for the associate?
Explain what the associate will focus on, for example:
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stakeholder management
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converting academic theory into commercial practice
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data acquisition
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setting up test environments or labs
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
What challenges does the UK knowledge base partner have that will be addressed through the partnership? What additional benefits and outcomes will the KTP bring to the UK knowledge base partner?
Outline what challenge this offers the academic team, and why they want to undertake this project.
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
What challenges does the African knowledge base partner have that will be addressed through the partnership? What additional benefits and outcomes will the KTP bring to the African knowledge base partner?
Outline what challenge this offers the academic team, and why they want to undertake this project.
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
What is market opportunity will this project open up?
Specify the target markets, their relative size or value and the market share you are expecting to achieve. State the business partner's current position in these markets and the main competitors, and if possible, the impact COVID-19 has had on businesses or sectors that are a focus of your project.
Your answer can be up to 1,500 words long.
What is your route to market, particularly if COVID-19 is likely to change market dynamics?
What is your strategy to achieve the market share indicated above?
Your answer can be up to 1,500 words long.
Quantify the likely commercial impacts of the project using our template.
Download the commercial impacts template, complete it and upload it.
Select ‘Yes’ to confirm you have uploaded the completed template.
What rationale did you use to generate the likely impacts of the project?
Explain how you calculated the net profit before tax figures in your commercial impacts template in question 31, including any assumptions you based the numbers on.
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
What additional business actions and investments will be needed for you to achieve the business case, beyond those needed to deliver the work plan?
The KTP can only be a part of the journey to full exploitation. What does the business partner have to do, over and above what is required to deliver the KTP, to realise the business case? Where an investment is required, please quantify it.
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
What additional benefits will be delivered from the project, such as the number of new and safeguarded jobs, or any wider societal and environmental benefits?
Indicate and justify any other benefits that this project will deliver that may help your case for support.
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
How will you manage the project effectively?
Use our work plan template to detail the project phases and milestones, including benefits realisation phase and the exploitation phase.
Download the work plan template, complete it and upload your work plan. Select ‘Yes’ to confirm you have uploaded the completed template.
In order to deliver your project successfully, what are you looking for from your associates?
Briefly describe the:
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qualifications
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skills
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attributes
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experience
Your answer can be up to 1,000 words long.
Who will be on the local management committee (LMC)?
List the members, giving each one’s name and job title.
Your answer can be up 500 words long.
The LMC is the formal project meeting. It should be chaired by the senior business employee listed in question 8. It should also include the:
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associates
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UK knowledge base supervisor
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African knowledge base supervisor
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business supervisor
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UK knowledge base lead
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African knowledge base lead
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knowledge transfer adviser
Secretariat must be provided by the African knowledge base partner.
Make sure each member you nominate understands their individual role and its responsibilities, and is aware of the commitment required to take part in a KTP.
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 joint commitment statement (JCS) template, complete it and upload it as a PDF. Select ‘Yes’ to confirm you have uploaded the completed template.
Does your knowledge base use the full economic costing (fEC) approach? Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.
If you are using full economic costing, you must upload your fEC certificate as an appendix to this question. It must be a PDF with a file size of up to 10MB. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.
You can use this question to upload up to 3 other supporting documents, such as in support of the business partner’s finance position. They must be in PDF format with a file size up to 10MB. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.
Select ‘Yes’ to confirm you have uploaded the document.
You can use this question to upload up to 3 other supporting documents, such as in support of the business partner’s finance position. They must be in PDF format with a file size up to 10MB. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.
Select ‘Yes’ to confirm you have uploaded the document.
You must agree to the following declaration. Select ‘Yes’ if you agree. If you select ‘No’ your application will be rejected.
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.
You must agree to the following declaration. Select ‘Yes’ if you agree. If you select ‘No’ your application will be rejected.
The partnership confirms that the knowledge transfer adviser has reviewed and approved this proposal for submission into this competition.
3. Finances
The UK knowledge base partner must give the funding requested, broken down into all the individual costs for the project and the associate.
The African business partner must give:
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details of its finances over the past 3 financial years
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details of any funding applied for elsewhere
For full details on what costs you can claim, see the KTP project costs guidance.
Background and further information
If you are successful
The partnership will have 9 months to jointly recruit an associate and start the project from the date the grant offer letter (GOL) is issued.
Knowledge transfer advisers
A knowledge transfer adviser must support your application. The knowledge base partner must invite a knowledge transfer adviser to join the project. Find and contact your local knowledge transfer adviser.
Your knowledge transfer adviser will:
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help you plan the project
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identify benefits
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review proposals before submission
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support and monitor the project
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mentor and coach the associate
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help you connect with the Knowledge Transfer Network
Help with applying
If you need more information about how to apply email Innovate UK at support@innovateuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357.
Our phone lines are open from 9am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
About the Knowledge Transfer Partnership
To find out more about KTP, read the KTP guidance.
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