Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Accelerating business innovation

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) can last for between 12 months and three years and are part-funded by a government grant. You can use a KTP to:

Access qualified people to spearhead new projects
Access university expertise which can help take your business forward
Develop innovative solutions to help your business grow
Develop your business for today’s market
Increase your competitive advantage
Improve your performance/business operations
Increase your profitability.

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What is a KTP?

A KTP is a partnership between your organisation (the company), the University (the knowledge base) and a recent graduate (KTP associate). It comes with government funding, which can pay for up to two thirds of the project cost.

A partnership is formed to work on a specific project that addresses a business need. The overall aim of the KTP is to help your business make a step change in an area that you have identified as a high priority.

Working with your organisation, the Associate leverages the knowledge, skills and technology available within the University of Derby, to work on the project. The Associate is closely supervised and supported by an academic expert as well as by someone within your business.

The project possibilities are endless. For example, your project could involve:

improving existing products or developing new products
developing and implementing a marketing strategy to enter new markets
developing new systems and frameworks to improve efficiencies in staff and processes.

If your project is related to improving management practices, you would be suited to a specific Management KTP (MKTP).

How does it work?

With our help you will identify an academic or researcher who has the right expertise for your organisation. You will then define and agree on a project that will enable you to draw on their expertise and apply it to your business. The agreed project could be for any length of time between 12 months to three years, depending on your business needs.

We offer a dedicated KTP team that assists with application processes, project development, associate recruitment, administrative support, relationship management and pastoral care.

What types of organisations can apply for a KTP?

Any business sector can apply, including ‘not for profit’ and public sector organisations.

What will it cost my organisation?

A KTP is part-funded by a government grant. A small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) would be expected to contribute about a third of the costs involved in the project — usually at least £25,000 per year.

Case studies

Find out about some of the KTPs we've recently completed or are currently working on.

Measuring the economic impact of Chatsworth House

A team involving economists from our University and a graduate, have developed a way to measure the economic impact of Chatsworth and the wider Devonshire Group.

Pink and purples wildflowers in a meadow

Helping Derbyshire Wildlife Trust develop new commercial services

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has chosen to work with our University on a new, two-year Management Knowledge Transfer Partnership (MKTP). This will help the Trust establish a business model for ...

hand over a graphic depiction of an algorithm

Developing machine learning for a financial technology firm

We're working with Aquis to develop machine learning capabilities that will help them monitor trading behaviour and identify abuses within financial markets.

Cars driving along road next to One Friar Gate Square's copper building

Bringing better business intelligence to the automotive sector

Computer science researchers from our University are working with FP Solutions, a business intelligence provider to the motor trader, on a 30-month Knowledge Transfer Partnership.