North East Universities showcase KTP Success

This November (3 -7), the first ever National KTP Week will take place across the UK with over 100 universities and businesses participating in one of the largest collaborations between the business world, and academic institutions in the UK.

Supporting businesses across the North East and Tees Valley, Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside Universities will be hosting several events during National KTP Week, with many businesses participating. The events include a showcase event at The Northern Design Centre, Gateshead on November 6th where businesses can learn more about KTP from business leaders who have successfully completed KTP projects. Representatives from each university and specialist academics will be on hand to discuss over breakfast how a KTP could help achieve bottom line business benefits.

There will be over 200 separate events staged in UK cities throughout the week by universities and colleges, showcasing the increasing influence of the KTP Programme on British business.

All the North-East Universities have an excellent success rate for KTP submissions, and they are encouraging local businesses to participate in local KTP Week events. Some places are still available for the breakfast showcase so regional companies who are keen to innovate and grow are encouraged to register by visiting: 

https://www.tees.ac.uk/sections/business/business_events_details.cfm?event_id=6654

The Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) programme, delivered by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, is a three-way project incorporating private businesses, academic institutions and graduates.

On average, businesses that take part in KTPs have reported an average £240,000 increased profit per annum*. An SME taking part in a KTP typically receives between £80,000 and £120,000 in funding. In addition businesses of all sizes can benefit from the additional resources, access to specialist academic expertise, strengthened links with their University and improved access to future funding.

KTP representatives from the five Universities have commented:

“The KTP scheme is open to local business of all sizes and across all disciplines. KTP applications are assessed against criteria that ensure all partners in the programme have equally weighted benefits. The business must be able to demonstrate their proposed project has a real need for knowledge transfer, that it is of clear strategic relevance to the business and will increase their profits.

Our advisors are available to help with applications and ensure your business gets the most out of the scheme by assigning a KTP advisor, who mentors the grant application, the ongoing development of the partnership, and overall project plan.”

The KTP programme was launched in 1975, and is one of the UK’s longest standing government supported alliances between commerce and academia. It aims to help businesses improve their competitiveness, productivity and performance by accessing the knowledge, technology and skills available within UK universities and colleges.

Specifically, the programme facilitates the employment of a recent graduate as a KTP Associate, to work full time in the participating business. The Associate works on a strategically important project, which enhances the long-term capability of the business. The project is also given consistent, hands-on support from a team of academic specialists from the University, and both the Associate and the business can access University facilities throughout the duration of the project.

National KTP Week will highlight and promote on a national scale the huge benefits that KTP programmes offer to businesses, graduates and academics alike, with the overarching aim of growing UK business, driving innovation, boosting graduate employment and forging even greater working relationships between universities and private business.

Iain Gray, CEO of Innovate UK commented:

"KTP Week is a great opportunity to demonstrate the success and value of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP); for business, for universities and to the associates employed to achieve the knowledge transfer. As Innovate UK's Chief Executive, I am proud to be associated with KTP and everything it stands for. I am happy to stand with all those who say "I love KTP”.”

The longevity and robust nature of the KTP programme, having stood the test of time and weathered successive governments can be attributed to the steady delivery of results at every level.

For graduates becoming a KTP Associate enhances employment prospects, with approximately seventy-five percent of Associates being offered a job by the host organization at the end of the project. KTP also allows the graduate from the start of their career to take ownership of their own project, and apply their specialist subject knowledge. The programme also offers fully funded training, the opportunity to develop a contact network and increased potential to go onto further studies such as a PhD or Masters degree.

Graduates can visit http://info.ktponline.org.uk/action/search/partnership_vac.aspx to view current KTP vacancies available across the country.

For the university, there is the opportunity to develop new strategic business relationships and new revenue streams. KTP also helps individual departments raise their own profile, identify commercially viable research projects, and develop new Intellectual Property with commercial potential.