Funding Organisations

Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council

Overview

To promote and support high-quality basic, strategic and applied research and related postgraduate training relating to the understanding and exploitation of biological systems. To advance knowledge and technology and provide trained scientists and engineers, which meet the needs of users and beneficiaries, thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom and the quality of life.

About the BBSRC

Why we fund KTP

BBSRC has a responsibility to enable the optimal and successful application of the outcomes of the excellent research it funds. It must ensure the widest benefit to society and the economy both within and beyond the UK. Such application may lead to direct financial impact through commercialisation or, more commonly, through the development of research outcomes to deliver wider benefit in a range of different areas of society and the economy. BBSRC wishes to support KTP projects embedding knowledge and ideas generated by the high quality research it previously supported, into relevant businesses to enable their growth and to ensure the UK society achieves maximum benefit.

KTPs we fund

BBSRC will support Knowledge Transfer Partnerships in the biosciences (excluding clinically focussed projects) that address company needs and fall within at least one of the BBSRC priority areas highlighted in our Strategic Plan (for details see www.bbsrc.ac.uk/science/strategic-overview.aspx). Relevant businesses are likely to include the agricultural, food, chemical, healthcare, pharmaceutical, industrial biotechnology and bioenergy sectors. Partnerships should demonstrate follow-on from, or connectivity to, BBSRC-funded research.

BBSRC Criteria for Support

Contact us

Webpage: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/business/people-information/knowledge-transfer-partnerships.aspx

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

About Defra

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is a government department in the UK, responsible for making policy and legislation, and work with others to deliver our policies in areas such as:

• the natural environment, biodiversity, plants and animals
• sustainable development and the green economy
• food, farming and fisheries
• animal health and welfare
• environmental protection and pollution control
• rural communities and issues.

Why we fund KTP

The majority of Defra's aims are delivered by its network of delivered partners which include Executive Agencies, Non Departmental Public bodies and organisations such as the Technology Strategy Board. Defra funds KTP projects specifically to support innovation in the food industry to make it more resilient and resource-efficient.

KTPs we fund

Defra lets a large number of evidence projects every year. The organisation does this in a number of ways, including:

• Competitions advertised on their site (see below), either for individual projects or in the form of multiple project research requirements documents
• Non-competitive arrangements, mainly at our science Agencies and other major contractors where we need to maintain certain expertise and facilities
• In partnership with others, such as through LINK programmes.

Contact us

Tel: 08459 33 55 77

Email: defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Website: http://www.defra.gov.uk

Economic & Social Research Council

Overview

The ESRC is the UK's largest organisation for funding research on economic and social issues. The research we support generates vital knowledge that helps a wide range of individuals, communities and organisations. Our total budget for 2011/12 is £203 million, which allows us to support over 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions and independent research institutes.

Why we fund KTP

The ESRC funds KTPs as part of our commitment to knowledge exchange and maximising the impact of social science research. KTPs are an excellent mechanism for encouraging dialogue and collaboration between business organisations and academics to the mutual benefit of both. Research by social scientists covers a wide range of topics that are of relevance to today’s business organisations, whether it be providing insights into new business models, advice on corporate social responsibility, or data modelling on customer behaviour. Engagement and collaboration with business also has benefits for social scientists, by gaining an improved understanding of business requirements, identifying new research themes and widening networks with business.

The KTP case studies below demonstrate how effective knowledge exchange between business organisations and social scientists can lead to increased employment, productivity and profitability.

KTPs we fund

We encourage proposals from any discipline or subject area within the social sciences, where these fit within the remit and the overall aims of KTPs. We support projects with private sector partners, (including social enterprises) which involve the application and co-production of social science knowledge. We particularly encourage applications from the retail and financial services sector.

We limit our support to KTPs that involve HEI departments. We do not fund projects that involve Further Education Institutions.

ESRC criteria for support of Knowledge Transfer Partnership projects (PDF, 133Kb)

See also:

KTP News: KTP leads to landmark study into social housing programme

Contact us

Contact: Eloise Stott Eloise.Stott@esrc.ac.uk Tel: 01793 413158

Email: knowledgeexchange@esrc.ac.uk

Website: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/collaboration/knowledge-exchange/opportunities/KT-partnerships.aspx

Invest Northern Ireland

Overview

The KTP Programme in Northern Ireland is a key facilitator of the wider knowledge transfer, R&D and innovation support environment. KTP offers strong operational synergies at the heart of the range of business and academic support programmes for the development of knowledge transfer, innovation and emerging technologies in Northern Ireland.

About Invest Northern Ireland

Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) is Northern Ireland’s business development agency. Our aim is to support new and existing businesses to grow and compete internationally, and to attract new inward investment to Northern Ireland.

Why we fund KTP

KTP assists Invest NI to achieve its strategic aims and objectives by, amongst other things:

• Facilitating the transfer of knowledge through projects undertaken by high calibre, recently qualified people under joint supervision from a company and an academic institution;
• Increasing the interaction between businesses and academic institutions and awareness of the contribution academia can make to business development and growth;
• Increasing the capacity of Northern Ireland businesses to innovate and thereby compete; and
• Enabling knowledge base institutions to engage in applied research relevant to the needs of the Northern Ireland economy.

KTPs we fund

We principally support those businesses that can make the greatest contribution to growing our economy. These are businesses that have ability to grow and drive productivity in the economy and are keen to export their goods and services outside Northern Ireland.

Contact us

Email: eo@investni.com

Telephone: 0800 181 4422

Website: http://www.investni.com

Medical Research Council

About MRC

The Medical Research Council is dedicated to improving human health. For almost 100 years the MRC has improved the health of people in the UK and around the world by supporting the highest quality science. The MRC invests in world-class scientists. It has produced 29 Nobel Prize winners and sustains a flourishing environment for internationally recognised research. The MRC focuses on making an impact and provides the financial muscle and scientific expertise behind medical breakthroughs, including one of the first antibiotics penicillin, the structure of DNA and the lethal link between smoking and cancer. Today MRC funded scientists tackle research into the major health challenges of the 21st century.

The MRC supports and advances medical research in three main ways: through our own research facilities, by funding research centres in partnership with universities, and by providing research grants and career awards to scientists in UK universities and hospitals.

Why we fund KTP

The MRC plays a leading role in training the nation's future research leaders across a range of biomedical, clinical and health disciplines. Alignment with industry in research, training and translational investments is at the heart of the MRC's strategy and delivery plan.

As part of MRC's commitment to engage with industry to support mutually beneficial research partnerships, we offer a range of collaborative training opportunities. KTPs add to this suite of opportunities by providing outstanding early career researchers with the opportunity to engage with industry, transfer knowledge and skills and enhance their future research careers.

KTPs we fund

The MRC wish to fund KTPs that build upon research excellence and innovation, with substantive impact for the business and research base involved. Projects must be aligned to priorities identified in MRC's Strategic Plan and preference will be given to projects which build on and/or transfer skills aligned with MRC strategic skill priorities.

MRC sponsored KTPs must demonstrate substantive and definable benefits for the KTP Associate. MRC preference is to sponsor KTP associates previously supported by a MRC PhD studentship. All partnerships should demonstrate follow-on from, or connectivity with, MRC funded research and training.

MRC Critera for Support

Contact us

Website: http://www.mrc.ac.uk

Telephone: 01793 416200

Email: fellows@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk

Natural Environment Research Council

Overview

NERC is the UK's main agency for funding and managing research, training and knowledge exchange in the environmental sciences. We coordinate some of the world's most exciting research projects, tackling major issues such as climate change, environmental influences on human health, the genetic make-up of life on earth, and much more.

About NERC

NERC is a non-departmental public body, receiving funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Working internationally, we have bases in the most hostile parts of the planet. We run a fleet of research ships and aircraft and invest in satellite technology to monitor gradual environmental change on a global scale. We provide knowledge, forewarning and solutions to the key global environmental challenges facing society.

Why we fund KTP

The KTP scheme enables us to work with a range of businesses and not for profit organisations to ensure that our research is applied.

KTPs we fund

We fund KTPs that build on previous research council funded science and where the project falls within the NERC remit i.e. related to the processes of the natural environment. We often co-fund KTPs if they cross the boundaries of our remit. For example we co-fund a number with other research councils.

Contact us

Telephone: 01793 411500

Email: JeSHelp@rcuk.ac.uk

Website: http://www.nerc.ac.uk

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Overview

The Science and Technology Facilities Council is keeping the UK at the forefront of international science and tackling some of the most significant challenges facing society such as meeting our future energy needs, monitoring and understanding climate change, and global security.

About STFC

The Council has a broad science portfolio and works with the academic and industrial communities to share its expertise in materials science, space and ground-based astronomy technologies, laser science, microelectronics, wafer scale manufacturing, particle and nuclear physics, alternative energy production, radio communications and radar.

Why we fund KTP

The STFC funds research of great quality and depth, resulting in the development of world leading technology and expertise. These have the potential to be utilised beyond the confines of the STFC funded communities for the solution of challenges from the wider academic community and UK industry.

The STFC funds KTPs to support the flow of technology from the STFC funded research of UK universities and laboratories; CERN and ESO; to industry or to academics from other disciplines into UK industry.

KTPs we fund

The STFC will support high quality projects which utilise technology and expertise arising from STFC funded research to address the need of the host company.

Contact us

Email: enquiries@stfc.ac.uk

Telephone: 01793 442000

Website: http://www.stfc.ac.uk

Welsh Government

Overview

The Welsh Government economic focus is to support industry-led investment in key sectors. The key sectors we will support are:

• Creative industries
• Information, Communication and Technology (ICT)
• Energy and Environment
• Advanced materials and manufacturing
• Life Sciences
• Financial and Professional services
• Food and Farming
• Construction
• Tourism

About the Welsh Government

Why we fund KTP

The existing Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme has successfully facilitated the transfer of knowledge and ideas between Welsh businesses and Higher and Further education institutions. A recent review of the effectiveness of the scheme has shown projects in Wales to deliver outstanding results and demonstrate excellent value for money. It also showed Wales to be one of the most successful areas of the UK in terms of percentage share of projects and their impacts.

We will build on our existing excellent relationship with the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and set new criteria for the support of the enhanced KTP projects in Wales. Increased resources will be provided and we shall be using the tried and tested governance and delivery procedures of the TSB in order to offer the scheme immediately and ensure that only the highest quality projects are supported.

KTPs we fund

The Welsh Government will support projects involving both SMEs and large enterprises. Large enterprises must demonstrate involvement of and impact on SME supply chains.

The Welsh Government is keen to support three year projects with large enterprises with the Associate already PhD qualified or providing an opportunity for the Associate to gain a PhD qualification. The projects will need to include an element of international knowledge transfer and demonstrate clear benefits to SMEs in the associated supply chain.. These enhanced KTP projects will help increase Wales’s international reputation as a location for high quality collaborative R&D.

All participating companies will benefit from high level knowledge transfer that will accelerate applied research, embed innovation and improve business and the specialist skills of recently qualified graduates.

Contact us

Dr Jarmila Davies, CEng

Email: jarmila.davies@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Telephone: English - 03000 616065 Welsh - 0300 0604400

Website: http://www.wales.gov.uk