KTP: Application Form Questions

Application Form Questions from October 2026

Question 1. Animal testing (not scored)

Will your project involve any trials with animals or animal testing?

Select one option:

We will only support innovation projects conducted to the highest standards of animal welfare.

Further information for proposals involving animal testing is available at the UKRI Good Research Hub and NC3R’s animal welfare guidance.

Question 2. Permits and licences (not scored)

Will you have the correct permits and licences in place to carry out your project?

We are unable to fund projects which do not have the correct permits or licences in place by your project start date.

Select one option:

Yes
No
In the process of being applied for
Not applicable

Question 3. International collaboration (not scored)

Does your proposed work involve any international collaboration or engagement?

Provide details of any expected international collaboration or engagement, including:

Names and countries of any international project co-leads
Project partners
Visiting researchers
Other collaborators
Any subcontractors or service providers

If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration or engagement, confirm this.

Maximum: 400 words.

Question 4. Export licence (not scored)

Indicate whether an export control licence is required for this project under the academic export control guidance.

Select one option:

Question 5. Trusted Research and Innovation (not scored)

Explain whether your proposed project relates to UKRI’s Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) Principles, including:

Any dual-use (military and non-military) applications
Any areas relevant to the 17 sectors of the UK National Security and Investment Act
Whether an export control licence is required and the status of any application
Any items or substances on the UK Strategic Export Control List

If your project does not relate to TR&I principles, confirm this.

Maximum: 400 words.

Question 6. Alignment with the Industrial Strategy

Which of the six sectors within the Industrial Strategy does your KTP most closely align with?

Select one option:

Advanced Manufacturing
Clean Energy Industries
Creative Industries
Defence
Digital and Technologies
Life Sciences
Other

Sector team colleagues may be offered the opportunity to review your application as a non-scoring assessor.

Question 7. Application of technology

How will the project apply technology?

Select one option:

Adoption of technology
Development of technology
Both adoption and development

Question 8. Potential Funders

Who do you want to financially support your project?

Choose at least one of the following:

UKRI KTP (Innovate UK)
Invest Northern Ireland
Welsh Government

Maximum: 50 words.

Question 9. Research Council alignment

Which research council aligns most closely with this project?

Choose at least one of the following:

Arts and Humanities Research Council
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Economic and Social Research Council
Medical Research Council
Natural Environment Research Council
Science and Technology Facilities Council
None

Maximum: 50 words.

Question 10. KTP type

What type of KTP are you applying for?

Select one option:

Classic KTP
Management KTP

Question 11. Number of associates

How many associates do you need to support this project?

Select one option:

One associate
Two associates

Question 12. Business partner type

What is the business partner type?

Select one option:

Limited company
Limited liability partnership
Partnership
Public limited company
Unlimited company
Other

Question 13. Virtual business

Is the business partner a virtual business?

Select one option:

Question 14. Business partner size

What is the size of the business partner organisation or group?

Select one option:

Micro
Small
Medium
Large

Question 15. Business partner SIC code

What is the business partner’s Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code?

Maximum: 10 words.

Question 16. Business partner registration number

What is the business partner’s registration number as shown on the official register?

The registration number must match the official public register. An incorrect number may result in the application being withdrawn.

Maximum: 10 words.

Question 17. Meeting location

Where will the business partner hold face-to-face project management meetings and Local Management Committee meetings?

Provide:

Building name or number and street
Town or city
County
Postcode

Maximum: 50 words.

Question 18. High growth potential

What characteristics does the business or business unit possess that suggest it has high growth potential?

Describe:

Business model
Leadership
Technical capability
Pipeline of ideas
Growth trajectory
Availability and access to funds

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 19. Business description

What does the business do now?

Explain:

Current business activities and objectives
Current revenue-generating activities

If part of a group, include:

Group size
Geographic locations
Range of activities

If not generating revenue, explain funding sources.

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 20. Business strategy

Where does the business see itself in the future?

Explain:

Future strategic plans
How the project supports those plans
What needs to change within the business

Maximum: 300 words.

Question 21. Problem Description

What is the problem this project seeks to solve?

Explain:

The problem
The potential scale
Consequences if it is not addressed

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 22. Outline of proposed solution

What is the approach to solve this problem?

Explain:

How the approach addresses the problem
Why the approach is innovative to the business
Supporting evidence

Do not include hyperlinks.

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 23. Knowledge gap

What knowledge does the business lack to deliver this innovation?

Explain:

New knowledge required
New technology required
New capability required
New expertise required
How it will be used

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 24. Embedding

How will new knowledge be embedded within the business?

Explain how the knowledge, technology or expertise will continue to be used beyond the project.

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 25. Reason for partnership

Why does a KTP suit this idea and what alternatives have you explored?

Explain:

Why KTP is the right mechanism
Why KTP funding is necessary
Alternatives considered

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 26. Output of the innovation

Which option best represents the innovation output?

Select one:

New product, service or business model
Improved product, service or business model
Both
None of the above

Question 27. Customers

Who is your main customer?

Select one:

Individuals or consumers
Businesses
Charities or NGOs
Government or public sector
Do not know

Question 28. Market opportunity

What is the market opportunity and market size for your idea?

Describe:

Current market share
Who will pay for the innovation and why
Key customer characteristics and needs

Provide evidence-based assessment of:

Total Addressable Market (TAM)
Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM)

Maximum: 300 words.

Question 29. Market opportunity quantification

How will the TAM and SOM opportunity be realised?

Explain:

Route to market
Key customers
Sales channels
Business model
Marketing approach
Key competitors and their market share
Barriers to entry

Maximum: 300 words.

Question 30. Commercial impacts

What are the expected commercial impacts, revenues and assumptions?

Include:

Cumulative revenue (£)
Net profit before tax (£)
Income-generating activities arising from the KTP
Assumptions used
Revenue and profit calculation formulas

Upload the Commercial Impacts Template as a PDF.

Maximum: 500 words.

(Questions 31-53 can be reformatted in the same style.)

Question 31. Wider benefits

What additional benefits to the economy, society and environment do the project team predict?

Describe:

Alignment with any UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Wider societal and environmental benefits
Additional economic benefits, including new and safeguarded jobs
Any other benefits that strengthen the case for support

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 32. Benefits

Who benefits most from addressing this problem?

Select one option:

Those who use the product or service, such as through lower costs or better outcomes
Wider society or individuals who do not use the product or service, such as through improved productivity or reduced inequalities
The environment, such as through reducing emissions or waste
Government or public services, such as through cost savings or improved efficiency
Your industry or sector, such as through innovation leadership or competitive advantage
Do not know
Prefer not to say

Question 33. Project funding

How does the business plan to address the funding of this project and commercialisation?

Explain:

How project costs will be funded
Likely costs of commercialising the innovation during and beyond the project
How commercialisation costs will be funded
Additional actions required beyond the project

You do not need to provide detailed project cost figures in this section. These should be included in the Additional Company Cost Estimate table.

Where project funding depends on raising additional finance, include supporting evidence or letters of support.

Maximum: 400 words.

Question 34. Business accounts

Does the business meet the affordability criteria?

If the accounts show any of the following, provide further details:

Declining turnover
Low net profit before tax
Negative liquidity
High debt or adverse equity position
Growth in long-term loans

If the financial position is complex and requires additional explanation, attach a supporting business letter.

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 35. Business partner’s challenges

What are the challenges the business partner will face through this project?

Explain the challenges the business faces in delivering the project.

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 36. Knowledge base partner’s challenges

What are the challenges the knowledge base partner will address through this project?

Explain the challenges the knowledge base faces in delivering the project.

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 37. Knowledge Base benefits

What impacts and outcomes do the academic team forecast?

Describe expected impacts and outcomes for the knowledge base partner, including:

How project insights will influence current research activities and curriculum delivery
How the project will improve the team's future ability to secure funding

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 38. Associate’s challenge

What makes this project challenging for the associate?

Consider:

Technical challenges
Resource challenges
People and change management challenges
Commercial exposure

Maximum: 200 words.

Question 39. Associate skills

What skills, experience and aptitude does your Associate need?

Explain:

The skills, attributes and experience required for the associate to be successful within the business
The rationale for the proposed salary level

Additional salary evidence may be included within supporting documents.

Do not name any potential associate. Applications that identify an associate will be withdrawn.

Maximum: 300 words.

Question 40. Associate supervision

Confirm the associate or associates' supervision arrangements comply with the KTP model.

The associate must spend the majority of their time working within the business.

Supervision must include:

Business partner supervisor providing day-to-day guidance and support
Knowledge base supervisor providing at least half a day of supervision per week
Joint responsibility for workplan delivery and Personal Development Plan (PDP) progression

Additional requirements include:

Daily supervision by the knowledge base supervisor when the associate is based at the knowledge base
Monthly face-to-face supervision meetings involving the associate, business supervisor and knowledge base supervisor
Attendance at Local Management Committee meetings by all supervisors and project leads
Recognition of the authority of the Knowledge Transfer Adviser

Select one option:

If "No", the application will not be progressed.

Question 41. Associate arrangements

What additional support measures will be included as part of associate supervision?

Explain:

Working arrangements (office-based, hybrid or virtual)
How those arrangements will be managed
Any variation from standard supervision arrangements
Any additional support requirements

If none are required, state "None".

Maximum: 300 words.

Question 42. Senior business employee’s background

How does the experience of the senior employee make them suitable for this role?

Your response must:

Provide their name
Provide their job title
Demonstrate commitment to the partnership
Confirm authority to commit resources to project delivery
Confirm authority to support knowledge transfer into the business

Maximum: 300 words.

Question 43. Business partner supervisor’s background

How does the business partner supervisor’s experience make them suitable for this role?

Your response must:

Provide their name
Provide their job title

Explain their suitability to:

Work effectively with the knowledge base supervisor and associate
Provide day-to-day project support
Offer guidance and mentoring
Connect the associate with business expertise and information
Lead knowledge embedding and commercialisation activities
Support compliance and associate wellbeing

If more than one business supervisor is involved, provide details for each and identify the lead for associate wellbeing.

Maximum: 300 words.

Question 44. Knowledge base lead’s background

How does the background and experience of the knowledge base lead make them suitable for this role?

Your response must:

Provide their name
Provide their job title
Briefly describe their role within the knowledge base
Demonstrate how their expertise relates to the project challenges
Confirm they possess the skills required to support successful project delivery

Maximum: 300 words.

Question 45. Knowledge base supervisor’s background

How does the background and experience of the knowledge base supervisor make them suitable for this role?

For each supervisor, your response must:

Provide their name
Provide their job title
Describe how their subject knowledge, academic interests and experience relate to the project
Confirm they possess the skills required to contribute to successful delivery
Explain how they will work with the business partner to support associate wellbeing

If there is more than one supervisor, provide details for each.

Maximum: 300 words.

Question 46. Additional academic support

Will there be additional academics supporting the project?

List each additional academic and explain:

Their subject knowledge
Their academic interests
Their relevant experience
The specific workplan activities they will support

Maximum: 100 words.

Question 47. Workplan

How will you manage your project effectively?

You must:

Complete and upload the latest workplan template
Include project stages and delivery activities
Include benefits realisation and exploitation activities
Include project risks
Include a summary Gantt chart showing task dependencies
Include knowledge embedding activities
Provide separate workplans if two associates are involved

Select one option:

If "No", the application will not be progressed.

Question 48. Local Management Committee members

Confirm that each Local Management Committee (LMC) member is aware of their role and responsibilities.

You must also confirm that:

The knowledge base will provide project secretariat support
Participation in the LMC is recognised as mandatory
All required members are included in the application team

Select one option:

If "No", the application will not be progressed.

Question 49. Previous funding and projects

Have any of the partners applied for or received other funding related to this application?

Include:

Relevant grant applications made within the last five years
Funding awarded or applied for through UKRI or other organisations
Any KTP or AKT applications submitted by the business partner within the last five years, including project numbers
Additionality and impact of previous KTP projects
Details of any concurrent KTP applications
Differences from any previously rejected applications

If there is no previous funding or project history, state "None".

Maximum: 300 words.

Question 50. Joint commitment statement

Confirm that a signed Joint Commitment Statement (JCS) has been uploaded.

Select one option:

If "No", the application will not be progressed.

Question 51. Supporting documents one

Upload additional supporting documents as appendices.

You may upload up to three supporting documents, for example:

Evidence supporting the business partner’s financial position
Supporting technical or commercial information

Documents must:

Be PDF format
Be no larger than 10MB each
Be legible at 100% zoom
Not contain photographs, website extracts or hyperlinks

Question 52. Supporting documents two

Upload further supporting documents as appendices.

You may upload up to three additional documents.

Documents must:

Be PDF format
Be no larger than 10MB each
Be legible at 100% zoom
Not contain photographs, website extracts or hyperlinks

Question 53. Confirmation of KTA support and declaration of accuracy

Confirm that the information provided is accurate and complete.

The partnership confirms:

The nominated Knowledge Transfer Adviser has reviewed and supports the application
All partners are aware of the relevant KTP guidance and supporting documentation
All partners agree to comply with published KTP rules and guidance
The proposal meets KTP eligibility requirements
The information included in the application is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge

Select one option:

If "No", the application will not be progressed.

KTP

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Thursday, October 15, 2026

Application Form Questions

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