Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) is Europe’s leading programme helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of the knowledge, technology and skills that are available within the UK-Knowledge base. KTPs have been running for over 30 years and are one of the most successful business support programmes funded by the Technology Strategy Board with18 other funding organisations. Open to both SMEs and larger companies, KTPs successfully unite university expertise and commercial innovation for the long term benefit of participating organisations.
How it Works?
Designed to enhance the level of innovation, productivity and ultimately profit within companies, knowledge transfer partnerships are supported by a government grant, academic expertise and a recent graduate.
Each partnership employs a high calibre graduate to work under the supervision of an academic on a specific project that the company partner has identified as central to its needs and development. The graduate, known as a KTP Associate, spends the majority of their time based at the company. The business is able to access University expertise related to key issues that will unlock growth. The business also gains access, through the associate, to the unique expertise and facilities available within the University. Each KTP may involve one or more associates and academics and lasts between one and three years.
The application procedure is quick and a grant offer is usually received within six weeks of applying. Support is provided by Research and Enterprise Support (RES) at the University of Surrey throughout the application procedure and the duration of the project.
Support from RES
RES facilitates and administers knowledge transfer projects between Surrey academics and businesses, both local and far-flung which includes:
- Help to find the relevant expertise within the University
- Proposal writing advice
- Recruitment of Associates: advertising and selection procedure
- Liaison with central KTP administration/management
- Publicity/PR for project where appropriate
- Ongoing support including regular financial statements and project meetings
KTP is Graduate Recruitment 'plus'
- Government grant to cover up to 67% of project costs
- Additional training opportunities for the Associate funded by government
- Access to expertise, resources and facilities at the University of Surrey
- Access to network of forward thinking companies also involved in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Business Benefits
On average, businesses involved in these projects have seen their competitiveness increase through:
- Promotion of enterprise, innovation and productivity throughout the organisation to strategic areas of business
- An increase in annual profit of over £222,000 before tax
- An increase in the skills of existing staff
- Three genuine new jobs created
- Over 78% of Associates are offered a full-time role by the company on completion of the project
- Long term benefits through developing a relationship with the University of Surrey
Your commitment
- Initial discussions to develop project plan
- Provision of space for KTP Associate to work at the company
- Support for associate development opportunities
- Company supervision of Associate (c. 10% of manager's time)
- Project monitoring meetings every four months
- Financial commitment to project throughout its duration.
Why work with the University of Surrey?
The University of Surrey is a research intensive university with a commitment to working in partnership with industry, commerce and the professions. The University has a strong track record for undergraduate placements which results in graduates with firsthand experience of the workplace and a real link with industry. Over a ten-year period we have had the lowest average graduate unemployment rate of any UK university - that's a decade of exceptional employment success.
Ground breaking research at the University is bringing direct benefit to all spheres of life - helping industry to maintain its competitive edge and creating improvements in the areas of health, medicine, space science, the environment, communications, defence and social policy. Programmes in science and technology have gained widespread recognition and it also boasts flourishing programmes in dance and music, social sciences, management and languages and law. As well as its campus just being ten minutes walk from Guildford town centre, the University also owns and runs the Surrey Research Park, providing facilities for 110 companies employing 1700 staff.
RES has been running successful knowledge transfer partnerships since 2002, and has a diverse portfolio of KTP projects reflecting the wealth of expertise within the University. Working closely with Surrey’s state of the art faculties, RES can match the appropriate academics and other resources to the company’s strategic business needs.
For more information or to discuss project ideas, please contact:
Research & Enterprise Support
Tel: +44 (0) 1483 689110
Email: res@surrey.ac.uk