Knowledge Transfer Network

What Knowledge Transfer Network does

Knowledge Transfer Network Limited, trading as Innovate UK Business Connect, is a UK-incorporated entity (legal entity founded 1980, operating under the Innovate UK Business Connect brand since a 2024 rebrand) that functions as the strategic delivery partner to Innovate UK, itself part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Its core offering is an innovation network facilitation platform that connects UK businesses, researchers, investors, and public-sector partners to funding opportunities, partnerships, and expert support across more than 23 sectors (Agrifood, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Creative Industries, Design, Digital, Electronics, Energy, Geospatial, Health, Industrial Maths, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Materials, Photonics, Quantum, Robotics & AI, Security & Defence, Sensors, Space, Transport, and Water). Its primary programmes include Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (operating for over 45 years), the UK's official Horizon Europe Hub, ICURe (commercialisation support for academic spin-outs), the Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund, and Contracts for Innovation, all routed through its main digital platform at iuk-business-connect.org.uk and supplemented by events, workshops, and direct enquiry channels.

The business model is grant-funded rather than fee-based: revenue is derived from UK government funding channelled through Innovate UK and a set of complementary UK and European public bodies (BBSRC, UK Space Agency, Dstl, Ofgem, ESA, IHI, and ARIA). Because pricing is not publicly disclosed and the entity is publicly controlled through UKRI, no commercial fee streams are apparent in the data. Go-to-market is community-led and bottom-up: businesses and researchers self-serve through the platform, register interest by area, and are routed into programmes through sector-specific digital pathways (e.g., Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Life Sciences, Global), supported by an events calendar, newsletters, and direct outreach via email and phone.

The customer base is split into three primary segments — UK businesses (the largest, seeking to access research expertise and funding), UK academic researchers (seeking commercialisation pathways, ICURe funding, and industry partners), and investors (seeking UK deal flow) — together with secondary partners such as universities, BBSRC institutes, and international collaborators. The core technology is a content- and event-driven matchmaking platform rather than a proprietary AI engine; the site's value is in aggregating and curating publicly funded programme calls, sector directories, and event listings, with no disclosed APIs, SDKs, AI modules, or software integrations beyond standard social and email channels. Operating status is active with 51–100 employees headquartered in Horsham, UK, and ongoing career, opportunity, and programme pipelines observed as of 2026.

Name

Knowledge Transfer Network

Legal name

The Knowledge Transfer Network Limited

Website

https://ktn-uk.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Knowledge Transfer Network (trading as Innovate UK Business Connect) is the UK government-backed innovation network, operating as the strategic delivery partner to Innovate UK/UKRI, connecting UK businesses, researchers, and investors to funding and partnerships across 23+ sectors via programmes such as KTP, ICURe, Horizon Europe, and Ofgem SIF.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Network Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital & Technology Transformation Consulting (BPAHACAH)

Keywords

• Innovation network services
• Knowledge transfer partnerships
• Research commercialisation support
• Innovation funding facilitation
• Technology brokerage services

Headquarters

HQ city

Horsham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a strategic delivery partner to Innovate UK (part of UK Research and Innovation), Knowledge Transfer Network operates as a publicly funded innovation support organization. Revenue is derived from government funding to facilitate UK innovation networks, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, and related programmes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Knowledge Transfer Network, operating as Innovate UK Business Connect, is a strategic delivery partner to Innovate UK (part of UK Research and Innovation) that connects UK businesses, researchers, investors, and partners to funding opportunities, partnerships, and expert support. It facilitates innovation across 23+ sectors through programmes such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Horizon Europe Hub, ICURe, Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund, and Contracts for Innovation, helping ideas move from concept to scale.

Product overview

Innovate UK Business Connect is a multi-programme innovation support platform that operates as the home of the UK's innovation networks. The platform functions as a unified ecosystem of programmes including Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (45+ years), Horizon Europe Hub, ICURe, Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund, and Contracts for Innovation. These programmes collectively connect organisations to funding opportunities, partnerships, and expert support to help ideas move from concept to scale across 22 sectors including Agrifood, Biotechnology, Digital, Energy, Health, Manufacturing, Quantum, Robotics & AI, and Space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships A 45+ year-old programme helping UK businesses innovate for growth by accessing the UK's world-leading knowledge base through partnerships with academic institutions.
• Horizon Europe Hub The UK's official Horizon Europe Hub providing guidance on research and innovation funding opportunities within the European framework programme.
• ICURe Programme The Innovate UK ICURe Programme enables researchers to turn ground-breaking research into investment-ready spin-out companies and license agreements, providing funding and personalised support.
• Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund A programme focused on decarbonising Great Britain's energy networks through innovation, bringing together energy network companies to fund transformative projects.
• Contracts for Innovation A programme enabling innovators to work directly with the public sector to develop new technologies and processes.
• Innovate UK Business Connect Platform A strategic delivery platform that brings together businesses, researchers, investors and partners to support innovation across the UK, connecting organisations to funding opportunities, partnerships and expert support.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Innovate UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovate UK Business Connect is a strategic delivery partner to Innovate UK, which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This is the primary organizational relationship enabling the network's operation as the home of UK innovation networks.
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization providing governance and strategic direction for Innovate UK Business Connect through the Innovate UK portfolio.
• European Space AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with ESA on funding opportunities including The Arctic Region: Safety, Navigation and Operations and Road and Traffic Safety programmes.
• BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on BBSRC Institutes ICURe Discover programme for research teams at BBSRC's eight strategically supported institutes.
• UK Space AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with UK Space Agency and Dstl on Space to Innovate: Delta Drop opportunity for defence and security space capabilities.
• ARIA (Advanced Research & Innovation Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with ARIA on Trust Everything, Everywhere opportunity seeds for cyber-physical trust infrastructure, with funding up to £500,000 each.
• OfgemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund programme for decarbonising Great Britain's energy networks.
• IHI (Innovative Health Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes IHI 13th Call for Proposals focusing on healthcare innovation, reducing animal use in drug safety studies, and immuno-science of diseases.
• La Piscine (Montreal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with La Piscine global innovation centre in Montreal for Global Incubator Programme for video gaming companies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IUK_Connect
• Facebookfacebook.com/IUKConnect
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-knowledge-transfer-network
• Xx.com/ktnuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Knowledge Transfer Network