Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT)
Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) grants designed to connect businesses with universities to develop their new products for growth
Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) grants
What are they and can you apply?
Call Novigo now 07868 748856
Accelerated Knowledge Transfer
Innovate UK Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) is jointly delivered by Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect.
The AKT competition uses the robust framework and resources of Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect Business for a high quality competition that delivers academic expertise where it is needed.
Unlike traditional Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP), AKT is a light touch competition with a streamlined application and a short duration of only 3 months. Qualified associate(s) work with the business to address an identified challenge.
Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) has been delivering positive impacts for businesses for nearly 50 years, demonstrating the value of collaboration between businesses and academia.
KTP is ideal for businesses with a clear strategic challenge. But for many, the real challenge is identifying their barriers to being truly innovative and knowing how to overcome them.
For these businesses, a shorter-term, rapid intervention can be the solution. Innovate UK Accelerated Knowledge Transfer was launched to create these intensive collaborations that impart knowledge and help businesses to:
- identify innovation blockers
- evaluate an innovation concept
- find solutions to immediate and long-term challenges
- accelerate new thinking and processes
- develop new business models and expand capacity
Accelerated Knowledge Transfer grants for SMEs
The Accelerated Knowledge Transfer scheme, or AKT, is an Innovate UK programme that helps UK SMEs access specialist expertise from a university, college, Catapult or research and technology organisation. It is designed as a short, focused collaboration between a business and a Knowledge Base to address a specific innovation challenge, technical problem or commercial opportunity. The official AKT guidance describes it as a rapid, targeted intervention to accelerate the evaluation or development of an innovation project or concept with potential for significant impact on the Business Partner.
For SMEs, AKT is valuable where the business has identified an opportunity but does not have the internal research, technical or academic capability to progress it quickly. This may include testing a proof of concept, assessing whether data is suitable for AI or automation, improving a product or process, validating a technical route, exploring new materials, developing a prototype specification, modelling a business or operational problem, or preparing the evidence needed for a larger innovation project.
AKT projects are deliberately short. AKT projects run for three months, with up to £35,000 of grant support available for eligible Knowledge Base project costs. The business must contribute at least 10% of total project costs in cash and must provide the internal time, data, facilities and supervision needed to make the project successful.
The SME does not apply directly. The application must be led and submitted by the Knowledge Base, with the SME acting as the Business Partner. This makes early preparation important. A university or research organisation will usually need to understand the business problem, the knowledge gap, the proposed project outputs, the commercial value, the role of the Associate, and how the results will be embedded into the business before agreeing to lead an application.
AKT is most suitable for SMEs that need a practical innovation intervention rather than a long research programme. It can help de-risk a technical decision, accelerate product or process development, strengthen internal capability, and create a clearer route to follow-on funding, commercial investment or a full Knowledge Transfer Partnership. So if you need cutting edge resources and skills to accelerate a new project, process or product to commercial readiness and could do it in 3 months if you had some specialist help…Apply for this grant now.
Novigo helps SMEs assess whether AKT is the right funding route, define a fundable project, prepare a Knowledge Base approach brief, and support the university-led Innovate UK application.
Accelerated Knowledge Transfer grants – Who can apply?
AKT applications must be led by an eligible UK Knowledge Base, such as a university, further education college, research and technology organisation, or Catapult. The SME participates as the Business Partner and must be a UK registered business with at least four full-time employees. Public sector bodies, charities and third-sector organisations are not eligible as Business Partners. The business must work with the Knowledge Base to develop the application, provide evidence that it can meet its cash contribution, support the Associate during delivery, and help embed the project outputs into the business. The application is submitted by the Knowledge Base, but the project must address a strategic innovation challenge for the SME and show clear potential to create commercial, operational or technical value. Novigo can also provide SMEs with a list of suitable participating universities and other Knowledge Bases, helping identify partners with relevant technical expertise and AKT/KTP delivery capability.
Accelerated Knowledge Transfer grants - How to apply?
SMEs cannot apply directly for an Accelerated Knowledge Transfer grant. The application must be led and submitted by an eligible Knowledge Base, such as a university, college, Catapult or research and technology organisation. The first step for an SME is to define a clear innovation challenge and identify a suitable Knowledge Base with the technical or academic expertise needed to solve it. The business and Knowledge Base then develop the application together, including the project scope, knowledge gap, Associate role, workplan, expected outcomes, business impact and project costs. The SME must provide company information, confirm it has at least four full-time employees, nominate a business supervisor, evidence its ability to make the required cash contribution, and commit the internal time and resources needed to support delivery. Novigo can help SMEs assess eligibility, prepare a university-ready project brief, identify suitable Knowledge Base partners, and support the Knowledge Base-led Innovate UK application.
Speak to Novigo about AKT funding support
AKT is a valuable opportunity for SMEs, but the route to application is different from most Innovate UK grants. The business must first shape the project into a clear, fundable 3-month intervention, then secure an eligible university or Knowledge Base willing to lead the application.
Novigo helps SMEs prepare before approaching academic partners. We assess whether the project is suitable, define the innovation challenge, identify the knowledge gap, prepare the university approach documentation, and position the project in a way that is credible, compliant and commercially relevant. We can identify and approach the universities with you to give you the best chance for success.
Once a suitable Knowledge Base agrees to proceed, we can support the full Innovate UK application, including the project scope, business case, Associate role, workplan, risk narrative, expected outcomes and compliance checks. This gives both the SME and the Knowledge Base a clearer route through the process and improves the quality of the final submission.
If your business has an innovation project that could move faster with specialist university expertise, contact Novigo to discuss whether AKT is the right funding route and how we can help you prepare.
Call Novigo now 07868 748856
£2 million Innovation Grants available
Larger innovation projects: EIC Accelerator grant
For SMEs with larger, more mature innovation projects, the EIC Accelerator offers a higher-value funding route than AKT. It supports start-ups and SMEs developing TRL 6–8 innovations with the potential to create or disrupt markets, where the technical and commercial risk is too high for private investors alone. Grant funding is available below €2.5m for innovation activities normally completed within 24 months; UK applicants can currently apply through the grant-only route. The call is open now, with short proposals accepted at any time and batched monthly. Novigo can help assess fit, prepare the short application, pitch deck and video script, and develop the full proposal if invited