Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026 – 2027 Round 3
A university and a business share a graduate for a project neither could run alone.
A Knowledge Transfer Partnership pairs a UK knowledge base — a university, research and technology organisation or Catapult — with a UK business, and embeds new capability in that business. Round 3 shares up to £12.5 million.
Grants run from £75,000 to £750,000.
The knowledge base leads and submits the application, not the business. Your project has to say why the business needs it, what new kno…
In scope: a specific, strategic innovation project tackling a challenge faced by the business partner. Your application must show why the business needs the partnership, what new knowledge it requires, what capabilities will be embedded as a result, how it aligns with the Industrial Strategy, and what makes the business one with high growth potential. Projects outside the six priority sectors are eligible but are not prioritised. UKRI and its councils, ARIA, and central government bodies are specifically excluded from applying.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see the timeline
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides →Innovate UK Grants for Deeptech Startups
How UK deeptech startups should approach Innovate UK grants, including competition fit, R&D categories, collaboration, eligibility, budgets, and strategy.
Where to applyGrants for Biotech Startups: NIH, NSF, SBIR/STTR, and Non-Dilutive Funding
A practical guide to grants for biotech startups, including NIH SBIR/STTR, NSF, translational funding, evidence, regulatory readiness, and budgets.
DocumentsGrant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
Find grantsGovernment Grants for Startups: What Deeptech Founders Should Know
A practical guide to government grants for startups, including Grants.gov, SBIR/STTR, state programs, eligibility, fit, timelines, and when to apply.
More from Innovate UK
All grants from this funder →Advancing innovation in accelerated cancer diagnosis
🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom
Supporting clinical validation of early cancer diagnostic technologies
National Materials Innovation Programme: CR&D Rd1
🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom
Funds UK-registered businesses collaborating on industrial research into advanced materials, covering up to 70% of project costs from a £12 million pool.
DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund drawdown five
🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom
Build the UK plant that makes zero emission vehicle technology at real volume.
UK-Singapore CRD 2026
🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom
Funding for UK-Singapore industrial research collaborations.
BridgeAI
🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom
Supports artificial intelligence adoption in agriculture, construction, creative, and transport sectors.
Eurostars Call 11 (UK)
🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom
Funds United Kingdom firms in multinational innovation consortia for export readiness.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →US-Ireland R&D Partnership
🇮🇪Research Ireland · Ireland
Funds tri jurisdiction collaboration between the United States, Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland through a science and technology partnership.
SMART Partnerships
🇬🇧Business Wales · United Kingdom
Funds collaborative R&D between Wales-based businesses and knowledge-base partners, with the Welsh Government covering 100% of the academic or research partner's eligible costs.
UKRI International Science Partnerships Fund
🇬🇧UKRI · United Kingdom
Supports United Kingdom researchers connecting globally through partnerships in planet, health, technology, and talent priorities via UKRI International Science Partnerships Fund.
DRIVE35 Supplier Readiness and Transformation Fund
🇬🇧WMCA · United Kingdom
Funds West Midlands businesses scaling EV supply-chain manufacturing capacity through capital grants.
Invest NI KTP — NI Top-Up
🇬🇧Invest NI · United Kingdom
Supports small and growth-minded Northern Ireland firms through knowledge transfer partnerships with graduate development placements.
EPSRC Strategic Infrastructure outlines: September 2026
🇬🇧EPSRC · United Kingdom
Funding for strategic infrastructure and resources supporting existing infrastructure.