The University of Nottingham has proudly celebrated 50 years of Innovate UK's Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) – a national programme that has transformed businesses, advanced academic research impact and launched exceptional careers.
The breakfast event, hosted at the GSK Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry, Jubilee Campus on Tuesday 2 September, brought together more than 80 delegates, including past, current, and prospective KTP business partners, Innovate UK representatives and University of Nottingham researchers.
This milestone gathering reflected on the lasting value KTP has brought to the region, the university's partners, and the wider innovation ecosystem, whilst also looking ahead to the next chapter of collaborative opportunities.
Professor Tom Rodden, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, opened the event, highlighting the university's significant contributions to both the regional and national economy through research and innovation. Nottingham has a rich history of delivering successful KTPs, with more than 160 projects since 2003, securing over £28 million in funding. Of these, 52 projects have been based in the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) region, supporting growth and innovation across the local economy.
The University of Nottingham is proud of its role in the KTP programme. These partnerships demonstrate the power of collaboration - combining academic expertise with business ambition to drive innovation, tackle challenges and deliver meaningful impact across society and the economy.
The programme continued with Richard Lamb, KTP Programme Manager at Innovate UK, who reflected on KTP's rich history and lasting value. He emphasised how universities and businesses working side by side deliver real impact locally, regionally and nationally – underpinned by the diversity and shared principles that make the programme unique.
Speaking about the impact of KTPs, Richard (pictured above) said: "KTPs are really important because they help unlock the knowledge contained within the university and transfer it into businesses for their benefit. In the last 50 years, KTP has delivered over 14,000 projects. Between 2010 and 2020, Innovate UK contributed around £200 million to support projects, which in turn delivered £2.3 billion back to the UK economy."
Dr Celina Dugulin, Technical Projects Manager at Murphy & Son Ltd, delivered the keynote, sharing how the company's partnership with the University of Nottingham has gone from strength to strength. Access to world-class academic knowledge, talent and the facilities at the International Centre for Brewing Science has helped the company innovate, extend product shelf life for customers, and put them at the forefront of brewing and beverage science.
Speaking about the partnership, Celina shared: "Murphy & Son chose to undertake a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Nottingham because it gives us access to cutting-edge research and technology to develop new products and stay ahead of industry trends. As a University of Nottingham graduate myself, I also knew how much the company would benefit from this collaboration."
Celina's reflections were a powerful reminder that KTP isn't just about research – it's about creating practical impact and equipping businesses with the right tools to grow sustainably.
A panel discussion followed, chaired by Dr George Rice, Director of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange at the university, featuring Celina and Richard alongside Victoria Howard (former KTP Associate and now Senior Social Mobility Inclusion Manager at Browne Jacobson), Professor Jonathan Aylott (School of Pharmacy), and Marta Villafranca Valls (KTP Manager at the University of Nottingham). Together, they explored what makes KTP collaborations successful, highlighting:
- A shared mindset and belief in the process – we're all custodians of a unique programme that delivers real-world change.
- Strength through diversity – showing how innovation thrives when academia, industry, graduates, and researchers co-create solutions with lasting benefits for the economy and society.
The event was a fitting celebration of a programme that continues to unlock new possibilities for businesses and universities alike.
