Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is a UK-wide programme that helps businesses and organisations to improve their competitiveness and/or productivity through the use of the knowledge, technology and skills that reside within an academic institute.

Funded by Government organisations led by the Technology Strategy Board, they enable the forming of a partnership between companies and academic institutes, enabling businesses to access skills and expertise to help them develop. The Partnership also involves a recently qualified person or people who facilitate this transfer of skills and expertise. These people will work within the company on a project central to its needs and are jointly supervised by company and academic personnel.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships provide resources and expertise to thriving organisations who wish to innovate, expand or improve their performance. Companies and organisations from a broad range of industrial and commercial sectors are eligible to participate and projects can be undertaken in a wide range of areas. Most companies participating are SMEs with 5-250 employees but larger companies are also eligible.

Almost half of the companies in the scheme have not collaborated with an academic institute before and 94% of businesses recommend the scheme to other companies.

There are already 20 KTPs in existence in the Bristol city region.

Institute of Physics South West

The Institute is active in representing the views of physics based industries and those with related interests to government agencies and other funding bodies. We produce reports on the health of physics-based industry and host events attracting high-profile speakers addressing issues relevant to the physics-based business community.

The Business and Innovation team provide information, links, services and support for companies and individuals. Details of the support offered and information about events can be found online: http://www.iop.org/activity/business/index.html

The local branch of the Institute also organises regular talks in the Bristol City region on a wide variety of topics, such as the latest physics research and applications of physics in industry.  Details can be found on the Branch website: http://sw.iop.org