What Graduate Career opportunities are there in Innovation?

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are all about innovation, impact and collaboration. Linking a business with an expert academic team each KTP is led by a talented graduate or post-graduate, known as the KTP Associate. The job offers the chance to champion change on a high impact project. And there are vacancies right now. 

In AI, Engineering, Materials Science, Biotech, Green Energy, NPD, Data Science, Health and so much more, KTP Associates are helping push boundaries and, in the process, supercharging their careers. See the latest jobs here. 

Some distinguished former KTP Associates include well known TV Historian, Suzannah Lipscomb; the current Head of Online at Montezuma’s Chocolates, Shirin Chehayeb;  Chief of Manufacturing Engineering at Rolls Royce, Tom Slater; Research Specialist (AI & Immersive Technology) at BT, Anasol Peña-Rios; and Mhairi McClair, Engineering Manager at Skyscanner. 

Acting as the key interface between the business and university teams, KTP Associates apply their academic learning to solve a real-world challenge, enjoying a great support and development package in the process too. With around 70% of KTP Associates being offered full time employment by their company at the end of their project, the role is a chance to lead positive change and forge a fulfilling career. Find out more about KTP and the KTP Associate role on the KTP site here. 

KTN is actively involved in every KTP project, investing time and expertise to help each one succeed. A key part of our contribution is the mentoring and support that our team of highly experienced Knowledge Transfer Advisers provides to KTP Associates, helping them to develop and expand their skills. 

“I am privileged to work both with gifted academics at the University of Cambridge, and bright minds at Vizzuality, a change agency for a sustainable and fair future. I am grateful for this unique opportunity to work in a job that I love and believe in.” Melanie Herrmann, KTP Associate, Vizzuality/University of Cambridge

If you are, or know someone, looking for a breakthrough career path with real economic and societal impact, find out more about applying your academic skills to an innovation challenge as a KTP Associate. See the latest jobs on the KTP website here. 

About KTP

KTPs aim to help businesses improve their competitiveness and productivity through better use of the knowledge, technology and skills held within the UK knowledge base. 

KTPs are funded by UKRI through Innovate UK with supporters including the Scottish Funding Council, Welsh Government, Invest Northern Ireland, Defra and BEIS. Innovate UK manages the KTP programme and facilitates its delivery through a range of partners including KTN, Knowledge Bases and Businesses. Each partner plays a specific role in the support and delivery of the programme.

In 2019 the Management KTP mKTP) was launched, linking businesses with Business Schools. Helping build business resilience, agility and growth through improved management effectiveness mKTP is proving to be a highly useful mechanism for post-Covid recovery and planning. The mKTP programme works in the same way as KTP and is funded by BEIS.