In addition to the funding we receive from Research Councils UK www.rcuk.ac.uk for academic research, there are also sources of funding to support collaborative research with one or more companies. This is typically to share the risk of pre-competitive research, and is designed to help companies to develop the products and services of the future. Where access to expertise and facilities is required to support a developmental project with an aerospace focus, the University of Southampton is your ideal partner.
Innovate UK is the UK's innovation agency and is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. Innovate UK invests in collaborative projects throughout the UK, which involve collaboration between businesses and researchers on Research and Development projects in strategically important areas such as science, engineering and technology.
From these projects many successful new products, processes and services have emerged. Funding is available for collaborative research projects that address specific strategic priorities for the UK. Innovate UK also support Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, a grant funded mechanism to transfer new knowledge and thinking from University partners into your organisation.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) is Europe's leading programme helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base.
If your company needs access to new knowledge or expertise, a Knowledge Transfer Partnership can place a high-calibre graduate into your business, supported by an academic expert and leading facilities of the University. These are high-impact projects seeking to significantly boost the profitability of your business, and the costs of these are met by up to 67% grant funding. Companies eligible for KTP will typically reap the following benefits*:
• businesses achieve an average increase in annual profit of more than £1 million after taking part. They also create around 2 new jobs
• academic partners produce on average more than 3 new research projects and 2 research papers for each project
• around 60% of associates are offered a permanent job in the company when the project ends
*Statistics from www.gov.uk/guidance/knowledge-transfer-partnerships-what-they-are-and-how-to-apply
Some of our recent KTPs include a collaboration with TSL Technology Ltd, Lonza Biologics Plc, Star Financial Systems Ltd and Merck Chemicals Ltd. Please click here to see case studies of other partnerships.