Effecting successful knowledge transfer: lessons from the UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme

This paper focuses on one case example illustrating how the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme has benefited a small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) in the UK. The KTP product is arguably the most used vehicle for effecting knowledge transfer between universities and local industries in the UK, and three distinct KTP projects (implemented in one company) are discussed. The impact of these projects is reviewed in terms of innovation initiatives, professional development, skills enhancement and organisational change. The change implications for the university are discussed and sets of guidelines for KTP selling, project design and project supervision are given.