AgriFood
KTN helps organisations interested in AgriFood innovation access the expert information, funding and connections needed to drive change. Our experts work with businesses of all sizes; locally, nationally and globally.
We create diverse connections to drive positive change.
Innovate UK KTN exists to connect innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking – accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions. Innovate UK KTN is part of the Innovate UK Group – the UK’s innovation agency.
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Creative Industries
Digital
Electronics
Energy
Geospatial
Health
Industrial Maths
Infrastructure
Manufacturing
Materials
Photonics
Robotics & AI
Security & Defence
Sensors
Transport
Water
Covid-19
Global Alliance
Innovation
Investment
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Sustainability
Our Work
Explore the diverse range of UK industries supported by KTN.
AgriFood
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Creative Industries
Design
Digital
Electronics
Energy
Geospatial
Health
Industrial Maths
Infrastructure
Manufacturing
Materials
Photonics
Quantum
Robotics & AI
Security & Defence
Sensors
Space
Transport
Water
Covid-19
Global Alliance
Innovation
Investment
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Sustainability
Featured Sector Information
New EPSRC project set to transform the treatment of chronic wounds with personalised ‘smart dressings’
A ground-breaking project to develop ‘smart dressings’ that stimulate tissue repair and report on the body’s healing processes could transform wound treatment.
Read more
HydroGenerally - Episode 5: Hydrogen for Glass production
Find out how the glass industry is driving new hydrogen developments and research, and explore the hydrogen transition opportunities and challenges in this sector, with KTN’s Steffan Eldred and Neelam Mughal, and special guest Rob Ireson from Glass Futures Ltd.
Read more
Press Release: Innovate UK KTN launches new report on Meeting Net Zero with the Power of Place
Innovate UK KTN has published an interactive report and podcast series on how satellite data can help solve problems on Earth.
Read more
Geo for Earth Podcast Series now live
Listen to Geo for Earth podcast series to explore the critical role the location intelligence plays in understanding our planet and solving the climate change challenges.
Read more
Save the Date: Quantum Showcase 2022
Innovate UK KTN is pleased to announce that The UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase will return live on 11 November 2022 at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London.
Read more
Immersive Tech Innovations Recognised in the 2022 Women in Innovation Awards
Immerse UK are delighted to hear that 7 of the 38 Women in Innovation Award winners utilise Immersive tech that promotes action in gender equality, disability, inclusion and education.
Read more
Biotechnology
The Biotechnology team at KTN focuses on Industrial Biotechnology (IB), Engineering Biology (EB, commonly referred to as Synthetic Biology) and Microbiomes.
Chemistry
By 2050 our industry will have embraced a circular economy and be using different feedstocks, technologies and energy sources to produce chemicals. The KTN Chemistry team can help you navigate these changes and identify innovation that will ensure your business, research or service remains sustainable.
Creative Industries
The KTN Creative team helps organisations interested in innovation in the Creative Industries to access funding, expert knowledge and to make powerful and diverse connections.
Design
Human-centred design is for businesses of any size who are interested in early-stage innovation strategy. For start-ups, strategic design helps get brilliant ideas to the right market. For established businesses, it helps reposition or expand their offering.
Digital
The KTN Digital team helps organisations interested in Digital innovation to access funding, expert knowledge and to make powerful and diverse connections.
Electronics
Electronics is the enabler of all things digital. It is the hardware and embedded software that allows products and processes to communicate, have power, have intelligence and awareness, be controlled, be automated and operate safely. It’s built into many sectors, including health, aerospace, manufacturing and retail.
Energy
KTN’s Energy Team is at the centre of KTN’s work contributing to delivering the UK’s ambitious Net Zero targets. With specialists in Nuclear, Offshore Wind, Thermal Energy Systems, Batteries, Water, Hydrogen, Sustainable Energy, Grid and Distributed Systems, Electrical Energy Systems and Solar, the team has deep expertise, powerful connections and a track record of successful projects delivering environmental and societal impact.
Geospatial
The world is powered by data; turning data into information helps us make decisions across all sectors of the economy. Innovate UK KTN hosts an innovation network that focuses on connecting the data holders and data processors with the people that can benefit from the insight geospatial data can provide.
Health
Health is critical to our wellbeing as individuals, plays a key role in societal and economic advances, and presents many opportunities for environmental impact. Innovations in health & care allow us to alleviate suffering, increase quality of life and life expectancy, and manage the needs of a changing and ageing population.
Industrial Maths
This team within KTN harnesses the power of mathematics to meet business needs and help a wide range of industries express problems in an accessible way. We also facilitate new partnerships with an extensive network of mathematical scientists and institutions across the UK.
Infrastructure
Against an overarching low carbon agenda, our mission is to support the development of UK innovation to deliver clean, accessible and secure energy & water systems through a digitally enabled construction sector and so provide smart, resilient and successful cities and communities.
We do this by simplifying the UK Innovation landscape and providing rapid transfer of high-quality information on technologies, markets, funding and partnering opportunities.
The expertise we bring spans energy systems, water, infrastructure and construction.
Manufacturing
KTN’s Manufacturing team helps manufacturers to innovate, and innovators to manufacture. We work with a broad spectrum of organisations, sectors and technology areas, advising on innovation and connecting to partners, experts, facilities and funding.
Materials
The Materials Team in KTN covers a broad scope of the materials life cycle, from feedstock, processing techniques, design and manufacture, testing, standardisation, resource efficiency and circularity.
Photonics
Photonics is the science and technology of light. This includes lasers, optical systems and components, as well as fibre optics. Photonics is a £13.5bn industry in the UK. Photonics technology is used across various UK industries and in society, from optical communications and data storage to laser sensors for autonomous vehicles.
Quantum
Quantum-enabled devices present a huge market opportunity for the UK. These technologies could transform a range of sectors including transport, healthcare, infrastructure, ICT, telecommunications and defence.
Robotics & AI
From Healthcare to Legaltech, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence are significant globalised technologies that can be applied in many sectors. The extensive industrial and academic research base in the UK can support both the national and global markets in addressing key challenges impacting societies today.
Security & Defence
The UK is committed to spending a minimum 2% of GDP on defence over the next decade, and at least 20% of that spending on equipment. This commitment represents spending some £186 billion on defence equipment and support in the ten years from 2018/19. In addition, the UK is the second largest defence exporter, winning defence orders worth £14 billion (2018).
Sensors
Sensor technologies create measurements and convert them into digital data. This data can then be analysed to inform decision making. What’s being measured could be chemical, bological, physical, mechanical or any other quantities such as chemicals, proteins, weight, dimensions and more.
Space
Space is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK, with the ambition to capture 10% of the world market by 2030. Currently, the UK manufactures over 20% of the satellites in orbit and has established a path towards launching satellites from UK soil by 2021.
Transport
Transport connects people, places, goods and services. Innovation in transport has the potential to benefit our economy, society and environment.
The transport system of the future will be more efficient, cleaner and smarter, through utilising enhanced digital, communication and autonomous technologies.
Water
The water sector impacts on every single person, business and industry type in the UK. We turn on the tap and expect clean water. We rely on the water infrastructure, the pipes, the sewerage treatment, the rapid fixing of leaks. And we expect environmental issues to be a cornerstone of the industry and its operations.
Covid-19
Covid-19 continues to be present in our lives at home and at work. KTN is ideally placed to work for the greater good and has already demonstrated its powerful connections through work on the Vaccines Taskforce, the Ventilator Challenge and advising the government on social distancing. We can bring together sectors to work on supply chain issues and our network can be a source of innovative solutions and approaches.
Global Alliance
We want the very best of the world connected to the very best of the UK. That’s why we built this programme; to form international collaborations with governments, societies, enterprises, institutions and people from every corner of the globe. It is innovation diplomacy at its best.
Innovation
We are driving positive economic, societal, and environmental change through innovation.
Investment
We work with public innovation funding and private finance providers where investment can create a positive change.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
For over 45 years Knowledge Transfer Partnerships have been helping businesses innovate for growth by accessing the UK’s world-leading knowledge base.
Sustainability
The world is changing at an ever greater pace. Industry and innovators are responding, working together to create the products, services and businesses of the future. KTN is here to help.
Featured Sector Information
New EPSRC project set to transform the treatment of chronic wounds with personalised ‘smart dressings’
A ground-breaking project to develop ‘smart dressings’ that stimulate tissue repair and report on the body’s healing processes could transform wound treatment.
Read more
HydroGenerally - Episode 5: Hydrogen for Glass production
Find out how the glass industry is driving new hydrogen developments and research, and explore the hydrogen transition opportunities and challenges in this sector, with KTN’s Steffan Eldred and Neelam Mughal, and special guest Rob Ireson from Glass Futures Ltd.
Read more
Press Release: Innovate UK KTN launches new report on Meeting Net Zero with the Power of Place
Innovate UK KTN has published an interactive report and podcast series on how satellite data can help solve problems on Earth.
Read more
Geo for Earth Podcast Series now live
Listen to Geo for Earth podcast series to explore the critical role the location intelligence plays in understanding our planet and solving the climate change challenges.
Read more
Save the Date: Quantum Showcase 2022
Innovate UK KTN is pleased to announce that The UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase will return live on 11 November 2022 at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London.
Read more
Immersive Tech Innovations Recognised in the 2022 Women in Innovation Awards
Immerse UK are delighted to hear that 7 of the 38 Women in Innovation Award winners utilise Immersive tech that promotes action in gender equality, disability, inclusion and education.
Read more
News
Young Innovator Award Winners get a business boost
Nineteen of the 2021 Young Innovators winners have been given a further boost by the Young Innovators Next Steps Awards.
Read More
News
IETF summer 2022 open for applications until 9th September
The £70m Industrial Energy Transformation Fund enables investment in efficiency and decarbonisation. Briefing webinar recording now available.
Read More
News
Queen's Speech 2022: The Innovation Agenda
As the Government sets out its 2022/23 priorities, we explore what it means for the UK’s innovation ecosystem.
Read More
News
Young Innovator Award Winners get a business boost
Nineteen of the 2021 Young Innovators winners have been given a further boost by the Young Innovators Next Steps Awards.
Read More
News
IETF summer 2022 open for applications until 9th September
The £70m Industrial Energy Transformation Fund enables investment in efficiency and decarbonisation. Briefing webinar recording now available.
Read More
News
Queen's Speech 2022: The Innovation Agenda
As the Government sets out its 2022/23 priorities, we explore what it means for the UK’s innovation ecosystem.
Read More
News
Women In Innovation 2020/21 Success Stories
Read the success stories of 19 of our 2020/21 Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation awardees to learn about how their ground-breaking ideas are helping manage the world’s greatest challenges. Find out how the Women in Innovation programme helped these pioneering women take their businesses to the next level and inspire the next generation.
Read more
Funding Opportunities
Young Innovators Awards 2022/23
Young people (aged 18-30 by 27th July 2022) can apply for an award that will help turn their business idea into a reality – including a £5,000 grant, a two days a week living allowance, and tailored business support.
Opens: 13/06/2022 Closes: 27/07/2022
Innovation Exchange
Net Zero
Global Alliance
