Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026 - 2027 Round 4

be a UK registered higher education (HE) or further education (FE) institution, research technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult be a UK registered business Through the KTP programme, Innovate UK seeks to support innovative businesses with the ambition to scale and grow in the UK. a UK knowledge base, acting as lead organisation and submitting the application All projects should align with the six Industrial Strategy’s sectors prioritised by Innovate UK. invite one UK registered business into the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) application agree to attend specified meetings at a location identified by the business partner 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 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 Innovate UK Business Connect or knowledge bases to discuss the suitability of KTP for their specific circumstances. The size, location and type of your business determine the proportion of eligible costs we will fund. If the business is part of a group, it is the overall size of the group which should be declared. The KTP programme is accessible to any UK registered business. This is normally demonstrated on a public register, such as on Companies House. UK subsidiary businesses of overseas parent companies are eligible, provided they are individually registered in the UK. 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. 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 that in the UK and internationally, will comply with the UKRI guidance on the use of animals in research and innovation.

Through the KTP programme, Innovate UK seeks to support innovative businesses with the ambition to scale and grow in the UK. Each Knowledge Transfer partnership (KTP) is a partnership between the following: a UK knowledge base, acting as lead organisation and submitting the application a UK registered business All projects should align with the six Industrial Strategy’s sectors prioritised by Innovate UK. Projects that do not align with one of the six priority sectors, are eligible, however, funding priority will be given to projects that align with the prioritised areas within the Industrial Strategy. The following organisations are specifically excluded from applying: UKRI, its councils and businesses owned or operated either wholly or partially by UKRI Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) central government departments and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland Any organisation eligible to become a KTP knowledge base may not apply into KTP 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 registered as a knowledge base with the KTP programme invite one UK registered business into the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) application invite one Knowledge Transfer Adviser 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 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 business 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 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 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. Publications are linked to the no subsidy status of this competition. It is therefore essential that knowledge base partners publish a minimum of two academic papers for each completed project or create at least two industry focused publications per project, publicly sharing project outcomes. The business partner must be invited into IFS 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 business finance performance information and enter estimates of how the performance of the business will be impacted by the KTP, which may be updated as part of the financial reporting process 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 Innovate UK Business Connect or knowledge bases to discuss the suitability of KTP for their specific circumstances. To collaborate with a knowledge base, the business partner must: be a UK registered business have two or more full time equivalent employees demonstrate the characteristics of a business with high growth potential 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 evidence of their ability to financially support their contribution 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 agree to participate in the final reporting process at the conclusion of the project The business partner must provide financial accounts from the current financial year and the previous two years. Other supporting documentation may be required. For businesses less than three years old, the knowledge base or Knowledge Transfer Adviser (KTA) will give further guidance. The size, location and type of your business determine the proportion of eligible costs we will fund. If the business is part of a group, it is the overall size of the group which should be declared. Refer to the company accounts guidance or speak to your accountant to help determine the overall size of your business or group. The KTP 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. The knowledge base 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. 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 that in the UK and internationally, will comply with the UKRI guidance on the use of animals in research and innovation. Applicants must separately list any KTP or AKT applications submitted by the business partner within the last five years, including the project numbers.

1. Each application must be led by a knowledge base, working with a business partner and supported by a Knowledge Transfer Adviser. If you are a business and do not yet have a relationship with a knowledge base partner, the Knowledge Transfer Adviser can help you to identify one. We encourage business partners to approach Innovate UK Business Connect or knowledge bases to discuss the suitability of KTP for their specific circumstances.
2. You must complete all relevant sections of the application and upload the required documents using the templates provided.
3. The business partner must provide financial accounts from the current financial year and the previous two years.
4. Additional official application requirements
5. Each application must be led by a knowledge base, working with a business. Check our find local advice page to see which universities, colleges, research and technology organisations and Catapults are currently participating in KTP.
6. You do not need to provide detailed figures of project related costs in this section, those must be included within the Additional Company Cost Estimate table, detailing any additional contributions required from the business during the life of the project.
7. Projects we will not fund We will not fund: projects that are not strategic for the business partner projects that do not align with the industrial strategy or are not considered to be exploiting a novel area of research projects that do not demonstrate a genuine market opportunity or viable route to market projects where the business partner is ineligible, for example, a public sector organisation, unless that partner is receiving support from another funder projects where the business partner has not provided sufficient information to support affordability projects where similar outcomes could be achieved by other mechanisms, for example, contract research projects without sufficient clarity on how the knowledge transferred will be embedded into the business 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 October 2026 Competition opens 27 January 2027 11:00am Competition closes 25 March 2027 Applicants notified 1 April 2027 Feedback
8. We will not fund: projects that are not strategic for the business partner projects that do not align with the industrial strategy or are not considered to be exploiting a novel area of research projects that do not demonstrate a genuine market opportunity or viable route to market projects where the business partner is ineligible, for example, a public sector organisation, unless that partner is receiving support from another funder projects where the business partner has not provided sufficient information to support affordability projects where similar outcomes could be achieved by other mechanisms, for example, contract research projects without sufficient clarity on how the knowledge transferred will be embedded into the business 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