Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnerships 6 (AKT 6)
AKT 6 is a rapid, short-term knowledge exchange intervention designed to accelerate innovation projects between a UK Knowledge Base and a business with 4+ employees. Success relies on demonstrating high growth potential and alignment with one of the six priority industrial sectors.
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Competition Scope & Overview
The Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) scheme allows a UK Knowledge Base to work with a UK registered business (which we will refer to collectively as the ‘Business Partner’ from now on), to deliver a short, rapid and targeted intervention. The Knowledge Base partner should be either a UK higher education (HE) or further education (FE) institution, research and technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult. This intervention will accelerate the evaluation or development of an innovation project or concept, with the potential for a significant impact for the Business Partner. Projects can be open in scope but you must first consider how it will align with the Industrial Strategy’s six prioritised sectors by Innovate UK. These are:
Advanced Manufacturing Clean Energy Industries Creative Industries Defence Digital and Technologies Life Sciences
If your project does not align with one of the six priority sectors, it may still be eligible if it is exploiting a novel area of research and the Business Partner meets the criteria for a high growth potential. Priority will be given to projects that align with the Industrial Strategy. Each Innovate UK AKT project will establish a new partnership or consolidate an existing collaboration between the Knowledge Base and the Business Partner through knowledge exchange activity. The application must be submitted by the Knowledge Base partner, but will be developed in partnership with the Business Partner. The Knowledge Base will be the sole grant recipient. If you are a business and do not yet have a relationship with a Knowledge Base partner, contact your local Knowledge Base to discuss this opportunity in more detail.Each application must be led by a Knowledge Base, working with a Business Partner.
In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. This competition has a funding limit, so we may not be able to fund all the proposed projects. It may be the case that your project scores highly, but we are still unable to fund it.
We consider a range of factors when determining whether to provide funding to applicants. This includes an assessment of prior conduct, such as any outstanding payments owed to Innovate UK or UKRI. Such factors may influence the funding decision, potentially resulting in a refusal of funding or an award subject to additional scrutiny.
This competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated in this Innovate UK competition brief. We cannot guarantee other government or third party sites will always show the correct competition information. Visit the AKT website to find out more about the scheme.
Official Applicant Guidance Documents
APPLICANT BRIEFING - AKT 6 v2.pdf
This document provides the official applicant briefing slides for the Innovate UK Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT6) competition. It outlines essential eligibility criteria, application procedures, project cost categories, and assessment requirements for organisations seeking to deliver rapid, targeted knowledge exchange interventions.
Download Official DocumentApplication Questions & Guidance Brief
Every question below carries specific word limits and guidance criteria.
Project summary
Official Guidance
Your project summary will give the assessors a useful introduction to your project. It should provide a clear overview of the whole project, including: What is the identified need that is driving the innovation? What solution will be developed utilising the innovation? What opportunities will be realised if the solution is successfully deployed?
Public description
Official Guidance
The public description must begin with “To” and be suitable for public disclosure. For example: To develop a novel process for picking soft fruit. If your application is successful, Innovate UK will make use of this public description to comply with government requirements. We reserve the right to amend the description before publication.
Scope
Official Guidance
Describe how your project fits with the scope of the competition. To demonstrate how your project aligns with the scope of this competition you must: read the competition brief in full; understand the background, challenges and scope of the competition. You must describe: 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.
Animal testing (not scored)
Official Guidance
Will your project involve any trials with animals or animal testing? You must select one option: Yes, No. 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.
Permits and licences (not scored)
Official Guidance
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. You must select one option: Yes, No, In the process of being applied for, Not applicable.
International collaboration (not scored)
Official Guidance
Does your proposed work involve any international collaboration or engagement? You must provide details of any expected international collaboration or engagement. You must include a list of the names and the countries, any international project co-leads, project partners, visiting researchers, or other collaborators are based in. You must also include details of any subcontractors or service providers. If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration or engagement, your answer must confirm this.
Export licence (not scored)
Official Guidance
You must indicate whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance. You must select one option: Yes, No.
Trusted Research and Innovation (not scored)
Official Guidance
You must explain if your proposed project work relates to UKRI’s Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) Principles, including: a list of any dual-use (both military and non-military) applications to your research; a list of the areas where your project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act; whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance and the status of any applications; a list of any items or substances on the UK Strategic Export Control List. If your proposed work does not relate to UKRI’s TR&I Principles, your answer must confirm this.
Associate Identification
Official Guidance
Do you know who the Associate for this project will be? You will be asked to confirm this information during project start-up. Options: Yes, No.
Number of Associates
Official Guidance
How many Associates do you need to support this project? Select one option: one Associate, two Associates.
Which of the IS 6 sectors described within the industrial strategy does your AKT most closely align with?
Official Guidance
Options: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, Life Sciences.
Business partner type
Official Guidance
What is the Business Partner type? This refers to the applicant business not the parent group. Select one option: limited company, limited liability partnership, partnership, public limited company, sole trader, unlimited company, Other.
Project Duration
Official Guidance
Can you confirm that this project will be 3 months in duration? Select one: Yes, No.
Number of business employees
Official Guidance
Does the Business Partner have four or more FTE or equivalent? The Business Partner requires a minimum of four FTE to be eligible to participate in this competition. Options: Yes, No.
Business partner size
Official Guidance
Give the size of the Business Partner’s organisation. If the Business Partner is part of a group give the size of the overall group. Select one option: micro, small, medium, large.
Business Partner SIC code
Official Guidance
What is the Business Partner’s Standard Industrial Code (SIC)?
Business Partner registration number
Official Guidance
What is the Business Partner’s name and registration number? This is normally demonstrated on a public register, such as Companies House. The registered name and registration number provided must match the official public register. An incorrect name or number will result in the application being withdrawn from the competition. If your organisation is not a registered business, but is a legal entity, include additional information on your legal status as one of your supporting documents.
Partnership details
Official Guidance
What is the name and the full registered address of your organisation and your Business Partner working on the project. Provide the full registered name and address of the Knowledge Base partner in this order: building name or number and street, town or city, county, postcode. Provide the full registered name and address of the Business Partner in this order: building name or number and street, town or city, county, postcode.
Business Partner supervisor
Official Guidance
Who is the Business Partner supervisor? Give their details in this order: title, first name, surname, job title, email address.
Business Partner supervisor’s background
Official Guidance
What is the Business Partner supervisor’s background? Explain why their experience makes them suitable for this role. The individual named must: work in a team with the Knowledge Base supervisor and the Associate; give day to day support to the project; offer guidance and mentoring support to the Associate; provide links to information and expertise available within the business. It is expected that the supervisor will ensure that the business gives consideration to any request for resources or training of business personnel required for the project to succeed and for its outputs to become embedded within the business. If your project has more than one Business Partner supervisor, you must give the background details for each person.
Knowledge base supervisor
Official Guidance
Who is the Knowledge base supervisor? Give their details in this order: title, first name, surname, job title, email address.
Knowledge base supervisor’s background
Official Guidance
What is the Knowledge Base supervisor’s background? For each Knowledge Base supervisor: describe how their subject knowledge, academic interest and experience are relevant to the project; give evidence that they have the necessary skills to contribute to the successful delivery of the project. If your project has more than one Knowledge Base supervisor, you must give the background details for each person.
Business area
Official Guidance
What are the businesses current activities? Explain: current revenue generating activities; current business objectives. If the Business Partner is not generating revenues, provide details of their funding sources. If part of a business group, you must also indicate the broader business activities undertaken by the group.
Innovation
Official Guidance
What is the innovation and what is the potential for significant impact on the business? This may address an external market opportunity or an internal opportunity within the business. Explain: the needs that are driving the innovation; how the project aligns to an internal need or external market; what opportunities will be realised if the solution is successfully deployed.
Challenges and Risks
Official Guidance
What are the challenges and risks associated with developing the innovation for the business? Explain: what are the challenges and risks associated with delivery; if the acceptance, or non-acceptance, of the innovation (either internally or externally) have been considered; if there are any IP related challenges or risks.
Need for Business-Academic Partnership
Official Guidance
Why is an academic and business partnership the most appropriate approach for this activity? You must decide what: skills, expertise, knowledge or capability the business needs to realise value from the innovation, and to what extent this funding will accelerate or enable the project; skills, expertise, knowledge or capability the academics have that will support the development of the innovation; options have been considered to continue the collaboration post project.
Project Outcomes
Official Guidance
If the development of the innovation is successful, what is the potential business impact? Explain: the potential internal or external and direct or indirect commercial impacts; the post project actions and investments that may be necessary by the business to extract optimum value from the innovation; the potential for additional environmental and societal impacts or benefits.
Project Management
Official Guidance
How will the project be managed and monitored to ensure an effective three way partnership? It is expected that the project team will meet at least once every two weeks, either virtually or in person and meet at least once in person during the project. Describe the regularity and frequency of meetings: at the Knowledge Base; at the business.
Project plan
Official Guidance
You must give a high level summary of the plan to deliver the AKT project with a maximum of three Project Stages and a maximum of three tasks per Project Stage. You must give an indication of the number of weeks to be spent on each task. An additional work plan is not required. You must use this section only to outline your plans for delivery.
Associates Skills and Attributes
Official Guidance
In order to deliver your project successfully, what are you looking for from your Associates? Briefly describe the essential and desirable: qualifications, skills, attributes, experience.
Knowledge Base Declaration
Official Guidance
You must confirm that as the Knowledge Base applicant, you will recover the Business Partner cash contribution in full. You must select one: Yes, No.
Declaration of accuracy
Official Guidance
You must agree to the following declaration. The partnership confirms that the proposal meets the overarching criteria for AKT and, to the best of their knowledge, the information provided in this grant application form is accurate and complete. Select ‘Yes’ if you agree. If you select ‘No’ your application will not be considered for funding. Options: Yes, No.
Applications from the Business Partner for KTP or AKT
Official Guidance
Has the Business Partner applied for a KTP or Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) project? You must include projects submitted by the Business Partner in the same round as this application and applications into any KTP or AKT competitions in the last five years. Type “Yes” or “No” as part of your answer. If Yes, for all applications that have been submitted within the previous five years you must provide: the application reference number for each submitted project; details of how this application relates to the other submitted applications; details of how this project differentiates or builds upon previous projects, or complements other applications submitted in this round that include the Business Partner; a brief description of what benefits were gained by the Business Partner from previous submissions or a brief description of the changes made to projects that have previously been submitted but were not funded.
Previous funding information
Official Guidance
Have any of the partners previously received any non-KTP or non-AKT awards that relate to this application within the last five years? This includes awards from UKRI and other funding bodies. Type “Yes” or “No” as part of your answer. If Yes, you must provide: the award number; the date of the award; the name of your supporter; a brief description of the award; details of how the previous award is linked to this project.