Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

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Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) is a part government-funded programme to encourage collaboration between businesses and universities in the United Kingdom. KTP was launched in 2003, replacing the Teaching Company Scheme (TCS). The programme is funded by some 17 public sector organisations, and led by the Technology Strategy Board, an executive Non-Departmental Public Body reporting to the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) (formerly the Department of Trade and Industry, DTI).

Each KTP involves three 'partners' ^[1]:

a company (this may be a private enterprise, public body or voluntary agency),
a knowledge base (this may be a university or other higher education institution, research organisation or further education college), and
an associate (a recently qualified graduate)

The aims of each KTP programme are to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and technology and the spread of technical and business skills to the company, stimulate and enhance business-relevant research and training undertaken by the knowledge base, and enhance the business and specialist skills of a recently qualified graduate. ^[2]

As a part-government funded programme, a company entering into a KTP programme contributes between 40 and 60 per cent of the project cost, with the government contributing the remainder. Average annual project costs are approximately £60,000 ^[3]. This package includes the associate's salary, as well as a travel budget, personal development budget, academic input and expertise, and administrative support.

There are approximately 1,000 concurrent programmes at any one point in time. ^[4]

The KTP programme is managed by Momenta which is part of AEA Technology plc. ^[5]