Manchester top of the table for the UK's Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

£25m value-add puts Manchester at the top of the table for the UK's Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, as it becomes partner of choice for innovation in businesses 

Following a decade of consistent and dedicated support for businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the university, the achievements realised by colleagues across the University has put the University at the top of Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) ranking, the institution announces today. This ranking demonstrates The University of Manchester is the partner of choice for businesses that want to drive informed innovation for commercial advantage.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) bring together academic institutions, with innovative businesses, to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between academia and business to deliver transformative change. KTP projects are funded by UKRI through Innovate UK - the UK's innovation agency - who manages the KTP programme and facilitates its delivery through a range of partners including the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN). The programme provides a grant contribution towards total eligible project costs of up to 67% to support collaborative projects between Academia and UK businesses - to translate and apply research and expertise to drive innovation in business.

Led by the University’s Knowledge Exchange Team, the University has secured £25M to support over 100 projects with a range of SMEs and large business partners over the past 10 years. Through delivery of these projects, Manchester academics have used their knowledge to support strategic commercial innovation for the benefit of UK plc, providing an ongoing and vital contribution at a time when the world is faced with the challenge of economic recovery following the pandemic.

Professor Luke Georghiou, Deputy President and Deputy Vice Chancellor of The University of Manchester said: "Being recognised by Innovate UK as the top institution for KTPs is fitting recognition of a decade's hard work from The University of Manchester. 

"The University of Manchester's KTPs have attracted over £25m funding to support businesses delivering real-world innovation, like inov-8 who are pioneering the use of graphene technology and Jackson Lees who are applying artificial intelligence (AI) powered tools to provide cost-effective and consumer-focused delivery of legal services.

"Topping Innovate UK’s KTP table is a testament to the hard work of the Knowledge Exchange team and academic researchers across UoM and is making us an innovation partner of choice for business."

Fiona Nightingale, Senior Knowledge Transfer Adviser of the Knowledge Transfer Network said: "As the nominated Knowledge Transfer Adviser for Manchester, I am absolutely delighted that The University of Manchester has attained the top position as the University with the most active KTPs in the UK .This is a well-deserved result that reflects the hard work and exemplary support provided by the University’s outstanding Knowledge Exchange team and the academic involved in delivering the projects.

"The KE team supports academics, companies and graduates at every step of the process, from finding the right expertise, developing a partnership, applying for funding and supporting a KTP project throughout its life.

"The Manchester region punches above its weight in terms of participation in KTP and this is a fitting outcome following lots of dedicated effort to support business innovation."

There are ongoing opportunities to develop Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and if you are interested in developing a partnership please contact The University of Manchester’s Knowledge Transfer Team here [ke@manchester.ac.uk]