Business Innovation

Accelerated Knowledge Transfer

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Accelerating Innovation

Do you need support to quickly identify innovation opportunities or challenges? Perhaps you need a proof of concept before embarking on larger scale projects, or want a data set assessed for AI readiness? An Accelerated Knowledge Transfer with Essex could be your answer.

Introducing Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT)

Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) is a new programme from Innovate UK that will see £4.5million distributed to businesses looking to innovate or develop new and disruptive capabilities.

 

It has been designed to create short-term collaborations between a business and a UK Knowledge Base, such as the University of Essex, to rapidly inject innovation capacity with grant funding of up to £35,000 per project.

 

The programme is inspired by the highly successful Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) model and aims to deliver a short, targeted collaboration lasting between two to four months that accelerates the evaluation or development of an innovation project or concept, which has the potential for significant impact for a business or organisation.

Is an AKT project right for your business or organisation?

For many, especially SMEs, it can be a challenge to fully identify the barriers and solutions that can open the door for innovation, greater productivity, and growth. Here, a short term AKT with Essex can be the ideal solution.

It offers a more intensive collaboration that quickly transfers new knowledge and creates a framework to help business teams to:

  • Identify innovation blockers
  • Evaluate an innovation concept
  • Find solutions to immediate as well as prepare the foundations for longer term challenges
  • Accelerate new thinking and processes
  • Develop new business models and expand capacity
AKT Funding Opportunity
  • It is open to UK registered businesses, charitable companies, or charities with a minimum of 4 FTEs
  • Grant will be up to £35,000 per project and they must run for between two and four months
  • The business partner must contribute 10% minimum of the total project costs in cash

The next call for AKT applications opens on Monday 6 November and closes on Wednesday 13 December 2023.

 

 

Talk to us about AKTs today

 

Our ambitions match yours. We’re business-led and hands on. From scoping through to funding wins, from recruitment of talent through to project completion.

 

Speak to us today to find out how we can help you with an AKT or alternative funding opportunity today.

University of Essex Business Engagement team
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Business Engagement Team
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Team