Information for academics

Established in 1975, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) are one of the world’s leading knowledge transfer mechanisms, which provides academics with the unique opportunity to apply their research to real world business projects. 

KTP works with over 100 universities across the UK, which translates into over 450 university departments. That includes all Research Excellence Framework (REF) rated departments, covering a wide range of academic disciplines – including engineering, computer sciences, physics and mathematics, biology, biotechnology, management, social sciences and the arts. 

KTP enables academics to participate in rewarding and ongoing collaborations with innovative companies that require up-to-date research-based expertise to succeed. 

Through KTP, academics can apply their unique knowledge and expertise to businesses, identify new research themes and student projects as well as developing industry relevant teaching and research.. 

Benefits of participating in KTP

• Generate new research income
• Deliver impactful, real-world benefits from your research
• Identify new research themes and teaching material
• Opportunity to publish unique high-quality research outputs (on average nationally, each KTP resulted in 1 published paper in a refereed journal, 3 new initiated research projects and 1 additional article)
• Creation of realistic case-study material for both teaching and Undergraduate/Postgraduate projects
• Demonstrable personal contribution to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise. 
• Initiating rewarding, long-term relationships with innovative businesses
• Enhances the research profile of the academic, department and university through demonstration of research novelty and excellence and significant media coverage
• Accelerate the career of collaborating researchers
• Enabling staff development through increased commercial awareness and industrial experience

How much of your time will be spent on KTP? 

For most KTPs, academics should expect to commit half a day per week to the project, mainly at the premises of the business partner. This commitment is important to build and maintain relationships with the partner and an understanding of the project environment. KTPs are delivered on a full economic cost basis meaning that the 10% time commitment is 100% funded, including overheads.

How does it work? 

A KTP is a three-way project lasting between 6 months and 3 years between an academic, a company and a recent graduate (known as the associate). The associate is employed by the University of Leicester on a full-time basis and deployed to work within the company to ensure that the required knowledge is transferred and embedded effectively. Throughout the project, the academic remains closely involved providing mentoring support and working directly with the company to ensure project targets are achieved. 

All partners are supported for the project duration by a knowledge transfer team at the University of Leicester who provide guidance and administrative assistance on all aspects of the KTP.