Knowledge Exchange

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. 
 
Knowledge West 
 
The consortium of 6 local universities and Business West was formed to contribute to further economic growth in the West of England and to enhance the financial, cultural and social prosperity of the sub-region, by bringing our business and higher education communities together. To meet this aim the Knowledge West project provides easy and direct access to an extensive range of academic and commercial expertise, acting as a local gateway to world class expertise, serving the needs of businesses and universities and developing collaborative flagship projects in particular. 
 
A key ingredient of the Knowledge West service is innovation, which is defined as the successful exploitation of new ideas. The aim is to stimulate demand for and deepen participation in innovation in local businesses. The collaboration will also encourage adoption of innovative concepts through sharing information, techniques and expertise. 
 
Knowlegde West offers the following initiatives and services: 
 
- Collaborative Major Initiatives  
- Events and CPD Programme  
- QuickMark Market Assessment  
- Innovation Networks  
- Non-Executive Directors 
 
For further information visit http://www.knowledgewest.org.uk/index.asp