Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) is a Government scheme allowing your business to solve long-term, strategic issues. A stellar graduate (the Associate) is placed within your organisation full time, but they retain all the support and resources of Newcastle University.
An academic lead works on the project for half a day a week, providing strategic direction to the project, meeting regularly with the Associate (in the same way that they would a PhD student), and liaising with the organisation to ensure that new knowledge is being embedded into the organisation.
This means that the Associate is able to tackle problems and develop knowledge that would be well beyond the reach of a traditional graduate placement. KTPs last between 1 and 3 years but a shorter KTP is available for 10 - 40 weeks.
How KTPs have changed organisations
KTPs have been used to help business and Universities work together on all kinds of strategic, technological and social problems. Results can vary, but the Government has found that, on average, each KTP has led to:
- an increase of over £220,000 in annual profits before tax
- the creation of three genuine new jobs
- an increase in skills of existing staff
Government Funding
KTPs are part funded by a variety of Government Research Councils and Strategy Boards. They provide:
- a 50% grant for Large Organisations
- A 67% grant for SMEs
The net cost to you varies depending on the project but we would advise to put aside £25,000 per year for SMEs, and £35,000 per year for a large organisation. This investment, only slightly more than a starting wage for a high-level graduate, gives you:
- the Associate, full-time
- the time of the lead academic to shape the project
- a travel and equipment budget, so that the Associate has everything they need to make the project work
- access to the University Library, and other University equipment that the Associate may require to do their job
- Associate Development – a budget to give the Associate new skills to tackle the job
- a range of administrative and logistical support, from the University and the central KTP office.
Contact Us for further information or visit the Newcastle University KTP website or the National KTP website
Case Studies
