Innovate UK

Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026 - 2027 Round 4

Innovate UK part-funds partnerships between a UK business and a UK university, college, research and technology organisation or Catapult, which recruits a graduate 'associate' to lead a strategic innovation project inside the business. The knowledge base leads and submits the application with a Knowledge Transfer Adviser's support. Grants cover up to 67% of project costs for SMEs and 50% for large businesses; projects normally run up to 24 months (36 if justified).

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: £75,000 – £750,000
Deadline: 98 days left; 27 January
Effort: Heavy; budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

The application is led and submitted by a UK knowledge base registered for KTP: a higher or further education institution, research and technology organisation or Catapult
It must partner one UK registered business with at least two full-time equivalent employees and high growth potential, which hosts and supervises the associate, provides accounts for the current and previous two years and pays its share of costs
The knowledge base must not own 50% or more of, or control, the business, and none of the academic team may be directors of or consultants to it
UK subsidiaries of overseas parents are eligible if registered in the UK
UKRI and its councils, ARIA, central government departments and the devolved administrations cannot take part
Businesses without a knowledge base partner can ask a Knowledge Transfer Adviser to help find one

What it funds

A specific, strategic innovation project addressing one or more of the business partner's challenges, delivered by an associate recruited by the knowledge base partner

projects should align with one of the six Industrial Strategy priority sectors; others can apply but get lower priority. Grant covers up to 67% of eligible costs for micro, small and medium businesses and up to 50% for large businesses, with the business paying the balance; in Wales, Welsh Government may fund SMEs up to 75%.

What it will not fund

Projects that are not strategic for the business
Projects not aligned with the Industrial Strategy or not exploiting novel research
Projects without a genuine market opportunity or viable route to market
Projects where the business is ineligible, for example a public sector body (unless another funder supports it)
Projects where the business has not shown it can afford its share
Projects where similar outcomes could be achieved through contract research
Projects without a clear plan for embedding knowledge in the business
Projects classed as State aid or a subsidy
Subcontractors (not allowed)

How to apply

Speak to a Knowledge Transfer Adviser and read the KTP guidance, costs guidance and competition brief
The knowledge base starts the application on the Innovation Funding Service and invites the business partner and Knowledge Transfer Adviser
Title the application 'Knowledge Base and Business Partner KTP 26_27 R4' using full Companies House names, and write a public description starting with 'To' (up to 30 words)
Complete project details, all application questions and finances, and upload the required templates
Confirm all the declarations that must be answered 'Yes'
Submit by 11am on 27 January 2027

do not include URLs, photographs or names of potential associates. Justification for multiple applications must be emailed at least 20 working days before closing.

Have ready

Commercial impacts template
Workplan on the latest template, with risk summary and summary Gantt chart (one per associate)
Signed joint commitment statement on the latest template
Up to three supporting documents in each of two appendix questions
Business partner's financial accounts for the current and previous two years
Full economic costing letter (knowledge bases using the fEC model)

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