Business-led Knowledge Transfer (KT) Partnerships are designed to help companies make strategic advances. The criteria are that:

• projects are strategic to the company's future
• the University’s academic expertise is needed
• projects will stretch the graduate employed to work on the project

An Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Manager, together with an appropriately qualified academic, will work with partner companies to write a project proposal, setting out specific aims, objectives and deliverables for the project.

When the proposal has been accepted the graduate (known as the associate) is employed by the University to work in the company. The remaining time is spent on professional and personal development, which often brings added benefits to the project.

The academic supervisor will spend approximately 10% of his or her time with the associate to ensure knowledge transfer.

Introduction

In a KTP a company or organisation together with the University of Derby identifies a strategic challenge to develop new products?

• Improve productivity and profitability with strategic projects?
• Develop new products?
• Develop new processes?
• Develop new staff?
• Gain access to Government Funding of up to 67% OF COSTS?

University of Derby actively promote Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) and support all aspects of the work from project definition to proposal writing and submission, graduate recruitment and comprehensive 2-3 year project support through to project completion and final report. See link: http://www.ktponline.org.uk/

What is it?

KTP is a government-funded scheme that enables business to access the skills and resources of the University of Derby for strategic advantage with high quality graduates working in companies on knowledge transfer projects.

What are the benefits?

• Companies: KTP helps your business improve competitiveness through innovation, increased profitability, the retraining of staff, and the development of a potential employee.
• Graduates: KTP provides you with a responsible employment opportunity with business related training personal development, a competitive salary and can accelerate your business career.
• University: KTP provides a mechanism for applying your expertise to important business problems whilst gaining experience of current business developments, which can influence your research and teaching.

How does a company get involved?

The company needs to identify a strategic need which it wishes to achieve through a partnership with the University of Derby.

The next step is then to talk to the University which will explain how the scheme works in detail and, if both sides are happy, link the company with an appropriate academic to put the funding proposal together.

The role of the Faculty in KTP is to promote it to companies and academics, link them together in partnerships, help write the funding proposal, help to recruit the graduate and then provide the management and administrative support for the project.

For further information about KTPs in the Faculty of Arts, Design adn Technology please contact

Harold Convey Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Manager
CEng MIET, B.Tech (Hons)

Faculty of Arts, Design and Technology,
University of Derby,
Markeaton Street,
Derby, DE22 3AW

Tel:   +44 (0)1332 593109
Mob: +44 (0)778 8410354
FAX: +44 (0)1332 597760

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web:   http://www.derby.ac.uk