• Recruit students and graduates
• Hosting students at your organisation
• Knowledge Transfer Patnership news
• Services for business, the public sector and community

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) provides resources and expertise to thriving businesses and organisations throughout the UK who wish to innovate, expand or improve their performance.  

Established in 1975, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is Europe’s leading programme helping businesses and organisations to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within academic institutions.

Part funded by Government organisations led by the Technology Strategy Board, these Partnerships combine the knowledge and expertise from an academic institution (such as the University of Plymouth) along with the appointment of a recently qualified graduate (known as the KTP Associate) who works within the business or organisation on a strategic project, jointly supervised.

Projects can be undertaken in a wide range of areas including for example: product or process design, manufacturing, resource efficiency, technical innovation, business processes (including IT and social sciences) and commercial development.

By participating in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, you can access highly qualified graduates and academic experts to spearhead new projects and take your business or organisation forward in order to:

Develop innovative solutions to help your business or organisation grow such as improving your product or process design
Develop your business or organisation for today’s market
Increase your competitive advantage
Improve your performance through enhancement of manufacturing processes and business operations
Increase profitability

Statistics from the latest KTP Annual Report 2006/07 shows that for each Knowledge Transfer Partnership employing one graduate, the average business benefits are:
One-off increase in company profit of £60k (highest £3.3m)
An increase in annual profit of over £227k (highest £5m)
Investment in plant and machinery of £193k (highest £24m)
78% of KTP Associates are offered employment by the host company on completion of their Project
76% of partners have plans for further collaboration

The track record for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, especially the tangible commercial outcomes for participating businesses, is unrivalled. Our KTP team is one of the most comprehensive and successful in the UK and our success stories highlight the range of benefits arising through KTP projects hosted by the University of Plymouth, for our business, graduate and academic partners.

With over 18 years experience of managing KTP at the University of Plymouth, we are now seeking to help develop even more partnerships throughout the South-West Region. For more information on Knowledge Transfer Partnerships at the University of Plymouth and what it could deliver for your organisation, please contact Emma Hewitt , Knowledge Transfer Programme Manager at the University of Plymouth.

Further information is also available by visiting the national  Knowledge Transfer Partnerships website .