# Knowledge Transfer Partnership

**Funder:** UKRI
**Consortium:** Required — business and academic/research organisation or Catapult
**Frequency:** Continuous
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/knowledge-transfer-partnership/
**Last verified:** 18 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Helps businesses partner with an academic organisation, research organisation, or Catapult to employ a graduate whose skills and knowledge can help the business innovate and grow. Industry-partnership with academia is required.

## Summary

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) pairs UK businesses with academic or research organisations to employ a graduate whose expertise drives business innovation and growth. The scheme requires a structured industry-academia consortium and funds the placement over a defined period. KTPs run continuously with rolling deadlines, making them ideal for businesses and research institutions aligned on a shared problem.

## Who should apply

- Businesses in any sector seeking to innovate through a graduate placement
- Academic organisations, research organisations, or Catapults willing to partner with industry
- Consortia with a concrete, shared research or innovation challenge
- UK-based applicants (businesses and partners located in Great Britain)

## Key dates

- Rolling deadline, apply at any time throughout the year
- Continuous programme with no fixed application windows

## Tips for applicants

- Frame the graduate's role as a bridge between organisational cultures; panels favour projects with clear learning pathways for the graduate and measurable outcomes for the business.
- Establish the academic or Catapult partner's track record in knowledge transfer before submission; a named, committed supervisor or KTP manager strengthens credibility.
- Structure the 18-36 month timeline with milestones that map to business growth metrics (e.g. patent filing, product prototype, process efficiency gain), not just academic publications.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership?

A KTP funds a graduate placement in a business, in partnership with an academic or research organisation, to develop innovation and business growth. The graduate's skills and knowledge are applied to solve a specific business challenge.

### Who can apply for a KTP?

UK businesses, academic organisations, research organisations, and Catapults can apply, but only as a consortium, a business must partner with an academic/research organisation or Catapult.

### Is the KTP open continuously?

Yes, KTP has a rolling deadline; applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year.

### Can a single organisation run a KTP?

No, a KTP requires a consortium of at least one business and one academic, research, or Catapult organisation.

### Does the KTP fund the graduate's salary?

The scheme funds the graduate placement, but the eligibility and budget details are not specified in the current metadata; consult the UKRI KTP guidance for salary arrangements.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/ukri-knowledge-transfer-partnership-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.