Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Funding Programme (UK)

Deadline: 15-Jul-2026

The Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (AKT) Funding Programme supports rapid innovation collaborations between UK knowledge institutions and businesses. The scheme is designed to accelerate the development or evaluation of innovative ideas through short, targeted projects that generate measurable commercial and technological impact.

The programme focuses on strategic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital technologies, life sciences, creative industries, and defence. Each project must involve collaboration between a UK knowledge base and a UK-registered business and must be completed within three months.

What is the AKT Programme?

The AKT scheme is a fast-track version of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership model that enables universities and research organisations to work directly with businesses on innovation-focused projects.

The programme enables:

• Rapid innovation development
• Industry-academic collaboration
• Commercialisation of research ideas
• Knowledge exchange between institutions and businesses
• Short-term applied research and evaluation projects

Each project is designed to deliver practical outcomes for the business partner within a compressed timeframe.

Programme Objectives

The AKT programme aims to strengthen UK innovation capacity by supporting targeted collaborations that deliver immediate impact.

Core Objectives Include:

• Accelerating business innovation development
• Supporting high-growth potential companies
• Enhancing knowledge exchange between academia and industry
• Strengthening UK industrial strategy priorities
• Improving commercial readiness of innovations
• Enabling rapid testing and validation of ideas

Key Features of the Programme

Project Duration and Scale

Each AKT project must:

• Have total eligible costs of £35,000
• Be completed within 3 months
• Deliver rapid, targeted innovation outcomes

Funding Structure

• Innovate UK funds a proportion of the Knowledge Base partner’s costs
• Businesses contribute alongside academic institutions
• Funding is designed to support short-term, high-impact collaboration

Priority Sectors

The programme prioritises projects in:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Clean Energy Industries
• Creative Industries
• Defence
• Digital and Technologies
• Life Sciences

Additional Eligible Areas

Projects outside these sectors may be considered if they:

• Use novel research applications
• Demonstrate strong commercial potential
• Align with UK Industrial Strategy priorities

Collaboration Model

Each project must involve:

• One UK Knowledge Base partner
• One UK-registered business partner
• A jointly developed innovation project

Knowledge Base Partners May Include:

• UK universities
• Further education institutions
• Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs)
• Catapult Centres

Project Structure and Requirements

Knowledge Base Responsibilities

The academic or research partner must:

• Collaborate with a UK business
• Recruit an Associate (0.5–1 FTE)
• Provide academic supervision
• Deliver knowledge transfer activities
• Ensure no conflict of interest with project staff

Associate Role

Each project must include an Associate who:

• Works directly on the project delivery
• Acts as a bridge between academic and business partners
• Supports development and evaluation of innovation concepts
• Operates on a 0.5 or full-time basis

Business Partner Responsibilities

The UK-registered business must:

• Have at least four full-time equivalent employees
• Co-develop the project with the Knowledge Base partner
• Host the Associate during the project
• Provide financial contribution to the project
• Offer supervisory and operational support
• Demonstrate commercial relevance of the project

Ineligible Activities and Organisations

The programme does NOT fund:

• Pure academic research without commercial application
• Projects without clear market potential
• Non-strategic or low-impact business ideas
• Subcontracted project delivery models
• Public sector organisations as lead partners
• Charities or third sector bodies as eligible Knowledge Base partners
• Projects lacking business engagement or innovation focus

Expected Outcomes

Funded projects are expected to deliver:

• Validated innovation concepts
• Improved business performance or capability
• Commercialisation pathways for new ideas
• Strengthened academic-industry relationships
• Accelerated product or service development
• Enhanced competitiveness of UK businesses

Why the AKT Programme Matters

Accelerates Innovation

The programme reduces the time required to test and validate new ideas.

Strengthens Industry-Academia Links

It promotes direct collaboration between researchers and businesses.

Supports High-Growth Businesses

The scheme prioritises companies with strong growth potential.

Enhances UK Industrial Strategy

Projects align with national priorities in innovation and productivity.

Enables Rapid Commercial Impact

The short project cycle ensures quick translation of research into business outcomes.

How to Apply

Step 1: Identify Partners

Applicants must form a partnership between:

• A UK Knowledge Base institution
• A UK-registered business

Step 2: Define Innovation Challenge

Develop a clearly defined project focused on:

• A specific business problem
• A novel innovation opportunity
• A commercially viable solution

Step 3: Design Project Plan

Include:

• Objectives and expected outcomes
• Methodology and work plan
• Associate role description
• Timeline (maximum 3 months)
• Budget breakdown (£35,000 total costs)

Step 4: Confirm Eligibility

Ensure:

• Business has at least 4 FTE employees
• Knowledge Base partner is eligible under KTP rules
• Project has strong market relevance
• No conflicts of interest exist

Step 5: Submit Joint Application

Applications must be completed jointly by:

• The Knowledge Base partner
• The business partner

Tips for a Strong Application

• Focus on clear commercial outcomes
• Demonstrate strong business need
• Ensure rapid, realistic delivery plan
• Highlight innovation novelty and market value
• Select an Associate with relevant skills
• Align strongly with Industrial Strategy sectors
• Ensure strong academic-industry integration

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting pure research projects without business impact
• Weak business case or market opportunity
• Missing or poorly defined Associate role
• Ineligible organisations involved in delivery
• Lack of clear commercial outcomes
• Overly complex or unrealistic project scope
• Weak partnership alignment between partners

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the AKT programme?

It is a fast-track UK innovation funding scheme supporting collaboration between universities and businesses.

How long does the project last?

Each project must be completed within 3 months.

How much funding is available?

Total eligible project costs are £35,000 per project.

Who can apply?

UK Knowledge Base institutions and UK-registered businesses working together.

Can charities apply?

No, charitable and third sector organisations are not eligible as lead Knowledge Base partners.

What is an Associate?

An Associate is a dedicated individual working on the project to facilitate knowledge transfer between partners.

Are subcontractors allowed?

No, subcontracting is not permitted under this scheme.

Final Thoughts

The Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Programme is designed to rapidly connect academic expertise with business innovation needs.

By enabling short, focused collaborations, the scheme helps UK businesses quickly test ideas, improve competitiveness, and accelerate innovation outcomes aligned with national industrial priorities.

For more information, visit GOV.UK.