At Glasgow Caledonian University our research, consultancy and knowledge exchange activities are supported by the Research and Innovation Office. Our research and innovation staff support research funding applications, management of contractual agreements, project costing and engagement with business partners including Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP).

KTP is funded by organisations including Innovate UK and the Scottish Funding Council. KTPs have been helping businesses for 40 years to improve productivity and competitiveness through the best use of knowledge, technology and skills. KTPs enable businesses to work with GCU’s academic experts to deliver a specific project or innovation solutions through this knowledge-based partnership.

Consultancy, collaborations and commercial opportunities are also supported and maintained by the research and innovation team. We ensure impactful sustainable knowledge exchange through social innovation. We provide effective metrics and procedures to record and evidence the University’s research and innovation activities.

Our aim is to attain research excellence by optimising the research output of academic staff whilst developing a dynamic culture of innovation amongst students and staff across the University.

GCU staff can connect to funding opportunities, research innovation documents, policies and support here.

News

The government has invested £25 million of additional funding in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) with a focus on projects that boost productivity. 

What this means…

Projects that enhance management skills within the business’ leadership to address productivity are encouraged. This means KTP projects could help boost a range of sectors and leadership skills that previously were unlikely to be funded, for example:

• Strategic and operational management 
• Employment relations and management, including use of incentives 
• Change management
• Growth strategy 
• Organisational psychology 
• Marketing 
• Accounting 
• Finance 
• Logistics
• Supply chain

The injection of funding is expected to deliver an additional 200 KTP projects and has been ring-fenced for low productivity companies (or those with the ability to boost productivity) looking to improve businesses performance. Projects will be funded on a ‘first come first served’ basis.

Innovate UK are looking for ambitious businesses who want to make a clear strategic step and address a significant challenge. The impact of the additional productivity focused KTPs is distinctly captured and comparable to the rest of the KTP programme and other Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy programmes.

This funding is all part of the UK government’s commitment to established and emerging businesses, with this additional £25 million set aside to increase management capability and technology adoption and improve companies access to finance. 

What is a KTP?

KTPs are part of Innovate UK’s world-leading flagship programme designed to help businesses to innovate by connecting them to the UK's wealth of academic resources.

They develop a partnership between the business seeking expertise, a university and a high performing graduate who base themselves full-time at the company. A project can last between 12 and 36 months.

KTPs are sponsored by Innovate UK, research councils and a number of other bodies. Sponsors fund 67% of the project costs for an SME and 50% of the project costs for larger companies.

Applications for companies looking to boost their productivity are open from 7 February 2019