Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026–2027 Round 3
UK knowledge bases can lead Knowledge Transfer Partnership projects with UK businesses; Round 3 is open with up to GBP 12.5 million allocated.
Opportunity Passport
At a glance
- RO ID
- RO-2026-006874
- Type
- Research Grant
- Level / stage
- Institution / Research Team
- Host
- United Kingdom · Eligible UK higher/further education institution, RTO or Catapult with UK business partner
- Organisation
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
- Applicant geography
- Applicants from United Kingdom
- Funding
- Partially funded
- Award
- Up to GBP 12,500,000 total
- Last deadline
- October 14, 2026, 11:00 (Europe/London)
- Last checked
- August 26, 2026
Opportunity overview
KTP supports strategic innovation projects led by a UK higher/further education institution, RTO or Catapult with a UK registered business. The knowledge base recruits an associate to work on the project.
Funding
- Funding coverage
- Partially funded
- Financial model
- Research grant / award
- Award
- Up to GBP 12,500,000 total
- Duration
- Projects are encouraged within 24 months; longer projects may be supported where justified.
- Research costs: Partial
Eligibility
UK knowledge base lead plus UK registered business partner with at least two full-time equivalent employees; a Knowledge Transfer Adviser supports the application.
- Applicant geography
- Applicants from United Kingdom
- Affiliation
- Lead must be a UK registered HE/FE institution, RTO or Catapult registered as a KTP knowledge base and collaborate with a UK registered business.
Discovery-new. Official UKRI publication date is 25 August 2026 but no publication time is exposed, so it is not classified Window-new against the 17:00 BRT boundary.
Programme details
- Funder / sponsor
- Innovate UK
- Host organisation
- Eligible UK higher/further education institution, RTO or Catapult with UK business partner
- Host country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Europe
- Disciplines
- Interdisciplinary / Multidisciplinary
Application
- Method
- Online portal
Required documents
- Online Innovation Funding Service application
- Current full economic costing letter where applicable
- Joint commitment statement
- Business financial accounts/supporting evidence as required
Knowledge base leads the application in the Innovation Funding Service with the business partner and Knowledge Transfer Adviser.
Deadlines
- Application deadlineOctober 14, 2026, 11:00 (Europe/London)Competition closes Wednesday 14 October 2026 at 11:00am UK time.
Sources and verification
Verification status: Verified. Last checked: August 26, 2026.
- Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026–2027 Round 3 — Competition overviewOfficial source · checked August 26, 2026
