Can I run a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)?

KTPs are open to both SMEs and large companies, subject to proving that you can support the project both financially and in terms of supervision. A project has to be commercially beneficial and this has to be clear from the outset.

How can I be sure that a KTP is right for me?

We can send a business adviser to meet you and discuss your company's needs. The business adviser can recommend a KTP or a range of other solutions available within the group.

How much will a KTP cost me?

The cost to SMEs is 40% of project costs – typically £17,800 pa. A large company will pay 60% of costs, about £26,700. Both of these include London Weighting.

How long does it take?

From a first meeting, the lead time to submitting an application is between four and eight weeks. Recruitment can start within a month of a successful submission. There are nine to ten submission deadlines per year, with gaps over the summer and Christmas.

Wouldn't it be easier just to employ a graduate?

The KTP associate is employed by the University on behalf of your company, so you do not have an extra person on your payroll. The budget also includes allowances for travel, expenses and equipment, all subsidised by the grant.

How does it help us if the associate works for the University?

The associate works in the company as a member of staff, keeping to company hours and regulations. 75% of associates are offered permanent positions with their companies at the end of the project.
The project can also draw on University resources, including expertise from other departments.

What happens if the project aims change?

The steering group for a project can agree changes in objectives, provided that the main context of the project remains the same.

What is my commitment to the project?

If the project becomes unviable, you can withdraw at any stage, and a financial reconciliation will ensure that you only pay your contribution up to that point.

Can I run more than one project?

You need to have the manpower to support each associate, but in principle an SME can have up to four projects in a five-year period.

How much extra work is involved?

The KTP Office will do its best to take the burden of administrative work for the project, so that all you have to do is oversee the associate.

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 Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Manager who 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, write the funding proposal, to recruit the graduate and then provide the management and administrative support for the project.

KTPs can be provided for short term projects between 10 and 40 weeks to meet the short objectives of a company be it be product development or a manufacturing issue.  This is the Shorter KTP.

For longer term projects where the team need to analyse the challenges, develop an implementation strategy, develop new products or processes, test them and prepare them for market use then the Classic KTP is the best strategy.

Shorter KTP

• A team project with three partners to look at tactical issues
• Lasts between 10 and 40 weeks
• Ideal for micro or small companies
• Project cost £950 a week
  • Cost for micro companies £380 per week
  • Cost for large companies £570 per week
• The University would recruit an Associate for the agreed period
  • This Associate could be an existing employee
• 0.5 day per week support from University Academic
• Can be used before or after a Classic KTP or be an independent project
• Can have multiple sKTP projects sequenced together or in separate areas

Classic KTP

• A team project with three partners to look at strategic issues
• 0.5 day per week support from University Academic
• KTP programmes run for 2-3 years depending on the project
• The standard cost of a project varies and typically costs c. £60k per year
• A large company (more than 250 employees in the Group) will get a 50% grant
  • (i.e. cost to them is c.£30k per year)
• A small to medium size enterprise (SME - less than 250 employees in the Group) will get a 67% grant
  • (i.e. cost to them is c.£20k per year).
• The costs cover the employment costs of the graduate, 10% of an academics time, budgetary and secretarial support, travel and subsistence, equipment and consumables and personal development budgets as well as all University overheads.

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.

KTP programmes run for 2-3 years depending on the project. The standard cost of a project varies, but not greatly and typically costs c. £60k per year. A large company (more than 250 employees in the Group) will get a 50% grant (i.e. cost to them is c.£30k per year) whereas a small to medium size enterprise (SME - less than 250 employees in the Group) will get a 67% grant (i.e. cost to them is c.£20k per year).

The costs cover the employment costs of the graduate, 10% of an academics time, budgetary and secretarial support, travel and subsistence, equipment and consumables and personal development budgets as well as all University overheads.

The Research Centre wants to develop collaborative practice with the creative industries that will be associated with its activities. Research projects are being opened up to this sector and funding is available from a number of sources to support and develop the work of micro and small businesses. The Faculty Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Manager, Harold Convey, is there to help companies and academics establish new programmes for the development of companies.

One scheme is Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) and further information is available by following the links:

General information on this site About KTPs

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships website http://www.ktponline.org.uk/

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

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Web:   http://www.derby.ac.uk