Not all projects will be suitable for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership.

A company will be able to discuss a possible project by speaking to somebody at one of the many university-based KTP Offices, or contact one of our KTP Advisers.

At the heart of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership is the relationship between a company that has a strategic need and a Knowledge Base Partner with the expertise to help the company address that need. Establishing a Partnership is not an automatic process and a good starting point is to contact the nearest university-based KTP Office. If their academics do not have the appropriate subject expertise they will refer you to a potential Knowledge Base Partner that has or bring in one of our KTP Advisers.

The Partnership Proposal Form and Grant Application for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership is completed jointly by the prospective Knowledge Base Partner and Company in discussion and with input and advice from the KTP Adviser. The proposal is, in effect, the first part of the Partnership as well as a means for providing information about the proposed participants and their objectives. It also requires detail on the proposed work plan for the KTP Associate.

When completed, the Partnership Proposal Form and Grant Application needs to be agreed first by the KTP Adviser and then submitted by the Knowledge Base Partner to the KTP Programme Office for consideration at a forthcoming meeting of the Partnership Approvals Group (PAG).

The PAG will meet at regular intervals throughout the year. Its membership comprises five senior KTP Advisers, the Programme Director, and an official from the Technology Strategy Board who has the authority to approve Proposals and Grant Applications for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships there and then. A high percentage of applicants are expected to result in grant support, although before a grant offer letter is issued to the Knowledge Base Partner there may be a request for additional information or, for example, for modifications to be made to the proposed Work Plan for the KTP Associate that is incorporated into the Proposal. Potential KTP Partners (both the Knowledge Base Partner and the company) and the KTP Adviser who advised on the Proposal will, normally, be informed within three working days of the PAG meeting of the outcome of the meeting in respect of their Proposal.

A Grant Offer Letter will be issued on behalf of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the Knowledge Base Partner with a copy going to the Company Partner. This will normally happen within three weeks of a Partnership Proposal being approved for support by the Technology Strategy Board on behalf of all the public sector bodies that fund KTP - the KTP Sponsors, but subject to any requirements for further information or for changes to be made to the Proposal. The terms and conditions of the Grant Offer Letter must be accepted in writing by the Knowledge Base Partner.

The acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Grant Offer Letter marks the point at which the Partnership can begin to recruit and appoint their KTP Associate(s). The process of recruitment is undertaken jointly by both the Company Partner and the Knowledge Base Partner, although the Associate's contract of employment is with the Knowledge Base Partner.

The objective must be to recruit the most appropriate Associate for the work and KTP Advisers and/or KTP Offices will provide advice. Details of prospective Associates who have registered online at the KTP website are also available. Partners should also place a 'Vacancy Notice' using the online facility on the website; this is then made available for viewing by prospective Associates on the appropriate section of the website. In any event, we place brief details of all recently approved Partnerships on the website for potential Associates to view.