Connected Supporting Queen's university Belfast - Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)
The Challenge
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) funded by Innovate UK foster collaboration between businesses, universities and colleges across Northern Ireland to drive innovation, enhance skills and transform business operations. Queen’s university Belfast has been very successful in delivering KTP partnerships over the last 40 years
Businesses and academic institutions must invest time and resources in identifying opportunities, defining project objectives, conducting research, carrying out site visits, and developing competitive funding applications. For many organisations, particularly those with limited resources or no prior experience of KTPs, these early-stage activities can create barriers to participation.
There was a need for support that could bridge the gap between industry and academia, helping partnerships develop innovative project ideas and creating a clear pathway towards successful KTP applications and delivery.
The Solution
Connected NI has been instrumental in supporting QUB in their KTP activity, by providing training opportunities to their academics enhancing the skills and expertise that is available. It has enabled them to support businesses at the critical early-stages to develop and progress Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
Through targeted funding, Connected supports HE/FE to work with businesses to support them with the activities required to move a concept from an initial idea to a fully developed KTP opportunity. This includes:
Project scoping and feasibility work.
Research and knowledge gathering.
Industry engagement and site visits.
Partnership development between businesses and knowledge providers.
Preparation of KTP funding applications.
Training and professional development for academic researchers.
By investing at the earliest stages of project development, Connected helps reduce barriers to collaboration and creates the conditions for successful innovation partnerships.
North West Regional College and Gallagher & McKinney
Gallagher & McKinney sought to modernise its fabrication processes and identify new opportunities for growth. Existing workshop processes relied heavily on traditional approaches, limiting efficiency and restricting access to new market opportunities.
Supported through the KTP framework, a three-way collaboration was established between North West Regional College, Gallagher & McKinney, and a dedicated graduate project manager.
The partnership developed DEFAB, an innovative digital workflow fabrication process designed to transform workshop operations and improve productivity. The project successfully digitised the company's fabrication workflow, creating a more efficient manufacturing process and enabling the business to expand into new industry sectors.
As a result, Gallagher & McKinney gained the capability to pursue contracts and opportunities that had previously been beyond its reach, strengthening its competitive position and supporting future growth.
South West Regional College and Foyle Food Group
Foyle Food Group has worked with SWC through the KTP project sharing knowledge and encouraging collaboration building partnerships in their area of expertise. This collaboration has enabled Foyle Food Group to work with hundreds of students and other agricultural businesses fostering ongoing collaboration and share key agricultural industry insights.
Regardless of how ambitious or complex an innovation project may seem, KTPs provide an adaptable framework for business growth—with Connected funding plays a critical role in bridging the gap between industry and academia from the earliest stages.