Knowledge Transfer

Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTN) aim to drive the flow of knowledge within and between specific industrial and academic communities to help develop ideas, interactions and communications routes between those communities and the Government.  They are part of the Government Technology Strategy and the Technology Strategy Board oversees their activities.  Several KTNs shown on the KTN link above are relevant to the Marine industry including:

The Materials KTN which includes composites and Smart Materials - SMART.Mat

The Transport KTN has a dedicated marine specialist facilitating innovation that moves people and goods more intelligently and efficiently across road, rail and marine.

The National Composites Network  is part of the Materials Knowledge Transfer Network jointly funded by government and industry that embraces the entire UK Composites industry and its supply chain. The NCN is a Company Limited by Guarantee, with a Board drawn from organisations with prominent composites interests including the BMF.

The UK has an impressive global reputation for innovation and research in composite materials and recognised high skills and quality based manufacturing, which is heavily led by implementation of new technologies. 

A Marine Composites Technology Roadmap was published in 2006 and is available on the NCN website or for members to download here - Login and go to the Technical Publications page.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Some of you may remember the Teaching Companies Scheme (TCS) launched in 1975, an initiative that aimed to bring together graduates, universities and businesses - particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In 2003 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships replaced TCS and, since 2007, the program has been managed by the Technology Strategy Board. Funded by fifteen Government organisations led by the Technology Strategy Board, each partnership is part-funded by Government with the balance of the costs coming from the company partner.

Knowledge transfer partnerships aim to improve relationships between a company and an academic institution by employing one or more recently qualified people to work in a company on a project of strategic importance to the business. The partnership aims to promote the transfer of knowledge, technology and skills to which the company partner currently has no access as well increasing the interaction between businesses and academic institutions, and awareness of the contribution academia can make to business development and growth.

KTPs benefit both partners. The companies involved get the opportunity to develop competitive advantage by linking with academia and access the high caliber of graduates; this can help to embed innovative culture in the organisation through the transfer of knowledge/expertise. In return the academic institutions get to identify new research themes and undergraduate and postgraduate projects that can apply knowledge and expertise to important business problems. This helps to develop business-relevant teaching and research materials to gain a relevant and improved understanding of business requirements and operations. These academic benefits will ultimately result in a stronger marine industry.

So how much should a company expect to contribute? Each budget and a company's contribution to it, depends on the details of the specific partnership. However, annual company contributions Associate employed could be at around a third of the project costs for a SME company (i.e. those with less than 250 employees) for a first Knowledge Transfer Partnership. In addition to this Companies will need to cover the full overhead costs of their own participation in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership. This may include management and supervisory effort, additional materials, capital equipment and accommodation

Many marine industry companies will meet the criteria for the KTP grants, further information can be accessed at www.ktponline.org.uk