Knowledge Transfer Initiatives

What are Knowledge Transfer Partnerships?

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are one of the UK's leading innovation programmes, helping organisations improve competitiveness, productivity and performance by embedding academic expertise within their business.

A KTP brings together three partners:

• Your organisation
• A dedicated graduate 'Associate'
• Wrexham University academics and specialists

Working together, the partnership delivers a strategic innovation project that helps businesses develop new products, services, technologies or ways of working.

Since the programme began, KTPs have supported more than 12,000 businesses across the UK.

• Benefits for Businesses
  • Accelerate innovation and technology adoption
  • Access specialist expertise and facilities
  • Develop new products, services and processes
  • Build capability within your workforce
  • Recruit and develop future business leaders
  • Improve productivity and business performance
  • Reduce project risk through academic support
  • Create opportunities for future collaboration
• Benefits for Associates
  • Fast-track career development
  • Competitive salary package
  • Training and development (10% of time and a £2k pa budget)
  • Employment within the chosen academic discipline
  • Opportunity to register for Higher Degree during the project
  • 85% of Associates are offered employment by the host business 

  Partnerships typically run for around 2 yrs and in around 75% of cases, the Associates are retained by the company post KTP and are part grant funded.

Ladder of Innovation

Not every business is ready for a full Knowledge Transfer Partnership. Our Ladder of Innovation provides a range of options which can be accessed individually or used as stepping stones towards a larger innovation project.

• Knowledge Transfer Voucher (KTV)

  Short-term support designed to help businesses access academic expertise and specialist facilities.

  Suitable for:

  • Feasibility studies
  • Testing and analysis
  • Product development
  • Accessing specialist knowledge
  • Early-stage innovation projects

  Support available: Up to £2,500.

• Mini Knowledge Transfer Partnership (Mini KTP)

  A structured innovation project delivered by a recent graduate with support from an academic mentor.

  Suitable for:

  • Testing new ideas
  • Process improvements
  • Innovation projects
  • Knowledge transfer into the business

  Project length: 3–6 months.

• SMART Partnership

  Part-funded innovation projects available to eligible Welsh businesses.

  A SMART Partnership brings together:

  • A business
  • A graduate Associate
  • Wrexham University

  Projects are designed to support innovation, business growth and capability development.

  Project length: 6–12 months.

  Funding: Typically part-funded, with the business contributing 50%.

• Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)

  A strategic innovation partnership that helps businesses access academic expertise, specialist facilities and talented graduates to deliver long-term innovation and business growth.

  Suitable for:

  • Developing new products, services or processes
  • Embedding new knowledge and capabilities within your organisation
  • Accelerating innovation and growth
  • Addressing complex business challenges
  • Building long-term competitive advantage

   

  Support available: A dedicated graduate Associate, academic expertise, access to university facilities and resources, and part grant-funded support for projects typically lasting around two years.