Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026 to 2027 Round One
Innovate UK. (UK Research and Innovation) · United Kingdom. Projects must be carried out in the UK and deliver benefits to the UK economy. (Innovation Funding Service)
Grant funding to support partnerships between a UK knowledge base and a UK registered business to deliver a strategic innovation project. The knowledge base recruits a graduate or postgraduate Associate to embed new knowledge and capability within the business. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
1 Apr 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Grant funding to support partnerships between a UK knowledge base and a UK registered business to deliver a strategic innovation project. The knowledge base recruits a graduate or postgraduate Associate to embed new knowledge and capability within the business. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Projects must align with one of the UK Industrial Strategy sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, Financial Services, Life Sciences, or Professional and Business Services. (Innovation Funding Service)
Match funding
Yes. The business partner must contribute the remaining eligible costs and any non-eligible project costs. (Innovation Funding Service)
Eligible applicants
The lead applicant must be a UK registered higher education institution, further education institution, research and technology organisation (RTO), or Catapult acting as the knowledge base. Applications must include a UK registered business with two or more full-time employees as the business partner. (Innovation Funding Service)
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Not specified. Funding depends on project duration and eligible costs. Typical project costs are approximately £8,500 per month. (Innovation Funding Service)
Total fund available
Up to £10,000,000. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding intensity
Large businesses: up to 50%. SMEs: up to 67%. The business partner funds the remaining eligible costs. (Innovation Funding Service)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Projects must address a strategic innovation challenge within the business by embedding new knowledge and capability through a KTP Associate. Projects should demonstrate business growth, productivity, competitiveness or innovation. (Innovation Funding Service)
Eligible expenses
- Associate employment costs, training and development, travel and subsistence, consumables, academic supervisor costs, estates and other eligible KTP project costs. Additional Associate costs may be included where justified. (Innovation Funding Service)
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
Innovation Funding Service (IFS). (UK Research and Innovation)
Competitiveness
Funding is competitive. Portfolio balancing may be applied and not all high-scoring projects will necessarily be funded. (Innovation Funding Service)
Decision timeline
Funders Panel: 4 June 2026. Applicants notified: 11 June 2026. Feedback issued: 18 June 2026. (Innovation Funding Service)
Assessment process
Competitive assessment based on project impact, innovation, commercial potential and partnership quality. Final funding decisions are made by the Funders Panel. (Innovation Funding Service)
Application sections
- Project details, application questions, finances, workplan template, commercial impacts template, joint commitment statement. (Innovation Funding Service)
Application components
Not specified
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
- Workplan template, commercial impacts template, joint commitment statement and supporting financial documents where required. (Innovation Funding Service)
Assessment criteria
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be withdrawn if eligibility rules are not met, if KTA support is not confirmed, or if UKRI competition guidance is not followed. Previous non-compliance with UKRI terms may affect funding decisions. (Innovation Funding Service)
Timeline and partners
Opening date
2 Feb 2026
Project duration
12 to 36 months. (Innovation Funding Service)
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
- UKRI KTP (Innovate UK), Invest Northern Ireland, Scottish Funding Council, Welsh Government, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). (Innovate UK Business Connect)
Collaboration rules
- Applications must be submitted by the knowledge base. Every project must include one eligible UK knowledge base and one UK registered business. Applicants should consult a Knowledge Transfer Adviser before submission. Subcontracting is not permitted. (Innovation Funding Service)
Consortium requirements
Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-07-31.
Grant Name
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026 to 2027 Round One
Minimum Award
Not specified. (Innovation Funding Service)
Application Limit
Each business partner may participate in up to four concurrent KTP-funded projects. Knowledge bases may collaborate with any number of eligible business partners. Additional business participation may be permitted at the programme manager's discretion. (Innovation Funding Service)
Research Category
Strategic innovation project. Research-only projects are not eligible. (Innovation Funding Service)
Subcontractors
Not permitted. (Innovation Funding Service)
Subsidy Scheme
No subsidy is awarded under the KTP funding model. Project outputs must be openly available on a non-selective basis. (Innovation Funding Service)
Sanctions Rule
Funding will not be awarded where it would breach UK sanctions. (Innovation Funding Service)
Animal Research Rule
Projects involving animals must comply with UKRI animal welfare guidance and relevant ethical requirements. (Innovation Funding Service)
Interview Stage
Not specified. (Innovation Funding Service)
Key Requirements
Applications should be supported by a Knowledge Transfer Adviser before submission. Projects must recruit a KTP Associate through an open recruitment process. Applications must align with the UK Industrial Strategy and must not include hyperlinks or URLs within application responses. (Innovation Funding Service)
Important Notes
The KTP Associate must be recruited through an open recruitment process. Successful applicants are required to attend the KTP New Partners Workshop. Project outputs should deliver lasting capability within the business. (UK Research and Innovation)
Contact Email
support@iuk.ukri.org (Innovation Funding Service enquiries). (Innovation Funding Service)
Official Grant Page
https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/knowledge-transfer-partnership-ktp-2026-to-2027-round-one/ (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
1 April 2026 at 11:00am UK time. (UK Research and Innovation)
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 1 Apr 2026
- Funding amount
- Not specified. Funding depends on project duration and eligible costs. Typical project costs are approximately £8,500 per month. (Innovation Funding Service)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant (Knowledge Transfer Partnership). (UK Research and Innovation)
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Projects must align with one of the UK Industrial Strategy sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, Financial Services, Life Sciences, or Professional and Business Services. (Innovation Funding Service)
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 3 Feb 2026