A partnership between associate Miguel Martinez-Alvarez, academic Professor Udo Kruschwitz and Signal Media founder David Benigson transformed the business and won the award for 2015 KTP of the year.

A trailblazing partnership between the University of Essex and media monitoring and market intelligence company Signal Media is being used by national innovation agency Innovate UK as part of a national campaign.

Innovate UK is encouraging businesses to apply for funding to support new partnerships with universities which will help them improve their competitiveness and productivity.

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme is a three-way partnership between a business, a university and a recent graduate with relevant expertise.

The university employs the graduate, who works at the company. The graduate, known as the ‘associate’, brings new skills and knowledge to the business.

The University of Essex has one of the largest portfolios of KTP projects in the Eastern region. The award-winning KTP with Signal Media has been an incredible success with Professor Udo Kruschwitz from the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering at Essex and associate Miguel Martinez-Alvarez helping support Signal Media to transform its business.

• Find out how a KTP transformed London-based media monitoring company Signal Media

KTP increases business profits

Innovate UK is highlghting that KTP can bring major benefits to a business. Recent research found businesses taking part achieved an average increase in annual profit of more than £1 million and created two new jobs.

Academic partners produced on average 3 new research projects and 2 new research papers for each project, and around 60% of associates were employed by the partner business.

Information about KTPs

• You can apply for a KTP at any time and applications are assessed at four different points in the year. The closing date for the next assessment is 6 July 2016
• Businesses or not-for-profit organisations of any size can apply
• KTP is open to universities, colleges or research technology organisations
• SMEs could receive up to two-thirds of their costs in grant and large companies up to half
• The average annual contribution of an SME to a KTP project is £23,000 and of a large business £30,000
• There are a series of local KTP advisers to help you with your application
• Find out more about KTP, how to apply and the contact details of your local KTP adviser.