Funding Competition: Accelerated Knowledge Transfer 3 (AKT3) 2024 – UK

Projects can be for any kind of project and must show:

• why the business needs this Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) project
• how the project will accelerate access to Knowledge Base expertise and evaluate or develop an innovative idea for the Business Partner
• how it will stimulate demand within the Business Partner to deliver further innovations and accelerate delivery through partnership with the UK’s Knowledge Base

Project Size

• Projects must run for two, three or four months only. The maximum grant will be £35,000 per project.

Projects they will not fund

• projects that will not enhance expertise or the evaluation of a specific business idea
• projects that seem unlikely to stimulate demand for the business partners
• projects that do not meet the eligibility requirements
• research projects
• projects where the business partner is a public sector organisation
• projects where the business does not contribute a minimum of 10% of total project costs
• projects that do not meet the requirements circular fashion
• projects which are classed as State aid under EC regulations or a subsidy under the EU-UK TCA
• projects with undertakings which gain a selective economic or commercial advantage from the funding

Who can apply?

• Your project
  • Projects must be in the circular fashion thematic area.
  • Each Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) project is a partnership between a:
    • UK knowledge base, acting as lead organisation and submitting the application
    • UK registered business or not for profit organisation
• Knowledge base partner
  • The knowledge base partner cannot work alone.
  • The knowledge base partner must lead the project and must:
    • be a UK registered higher education (HE) or further education (FE) institution, research technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult
    • invite one UK registered business, not for profit organisation into the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) application
    • provide a minimum of 0.25 days per week of supervision to the project
    • not have ownership of 50% or more of the business partner or a controlling interest through a shareholder agreement
    • complete the application form in partnership with the business
• Business partner
  • Business partners cannot work alone. They must develop the project with a UK knowledge base who can provide the right skills to meet the knowledge gap within the business.
  • They encourage business partners to approach knowledge bases directly to discuss the suitability of AKT for their specific circumstances.
  • To collaborate with a knowledge base, the business partner must:
    • be a UK registered business or not for profit organisation
    • have four or more full time equivalent employees
    • complete the application form in partnership with the knowledge base partner
    • provide the knowledge base with evidence of their ability to financially support their contribution
    • be able to host the associate and provide them with supervisory support
  • The registered name and registration number provided must match the official public register.
  • UK subsidiary businesses of overseas parent companies are eligible, provided they are individually registered in the UK.
• Subcontractors
  • Subcontractors are not allowed in this competition.

For more information, visit Innovate UK.