What Knowledge Transfer Ireland - KTI does

Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) is a national knowledge transfer facilitation body operating under Enterprise Ireland, the Irish state agency responsible for enterprise development. Founded in 2014 and headquartered at Enterprise Ireland's East Point Business Park in Dublin, KTI operates as a policy-driven intermediary between Irish businesses, higher education institutions, and publicly funded research organisations. Its core function is to reduce friction in the commercialisation of publicly funded research by providing standardised contracting templates, an RD&I Funding Tool that maps company profile to public funding sources, the Annual Knowledge Transfer Survey as the authoritative national benchmark, and recognition programmes such as the KTI Impact Awards and Annual Conference. Director Alison Campbell leads the organisation with a small team of 1–10 employees.

KTI's product portfolio is content- and service-led rather than software-led. The KTI Website/Portal functions as the central information hub, supplemented by the RD&I Funding Tool (an interactive questionnaire-driven portal), the Model Agreements Catalogue and Practical Guides (covering IP, licensing, and the National IP Protocol), the Annual Knowledge Transfer Survey publications, the KTI Impact Awards recognition programme, and the "Unlocking Knowledge Transfer" monthly webinar series covering topics such as open research, Industry 5.0, patenting trends, and AI expertise. Distribution is direct and digital-first via the website, complemented by Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube (KTIConnectTV), and a domestic events programme.

KTI does not operate a commercial revenue model. Its services are provided free of charge to both industry and HEI users, with operational funding flowing from Enterprise Ireland and policy oversight from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). It is therefore a government-supported national initiative rather than an investable commercial entity, with no external investors, no funding rounds, no disclosed revenue, and no separately incorporated legal structure.

Name

Knowledge Transfer Ireland - KTI

Legal name

Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI)

Website

https://knowledgetransferireland.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KTI is Ireland's national knowledge transfer facilitation body, operating under Enterprise Ireland to connect Irish businesses with higher education institutions and publicly funded research organisations through standardised agreements, an RD&I funding tool, and annual benchmarking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) is Ireland's national knowledge transfer facilitation body, hosted within Enterprise Ireland, that supports the commercialization of publicly funded research. KTI provides services and digital resources that connect businesses with higher education institutions and research-performing organizations across Ireland. Its services are provided free of charge to users.

Product overview

Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) operates as a national knowledge transfer facilitation service rather than a single unified software product. The organization provides an information portal (KTI Website/Portal) as its primary offering, complemented by an RD&I Funding Tool for identifying research funding sources, an Annual Knowledge Transfer Survey publication providing sector statistics, a Model Agreements Catalogue with contracting resources, the KTI Impact Awards recognition program, and an educational Webinar Series. These services work together to connect Irish research institutions with industry partners and support the commercialization of publicly funded research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Enterprise IrelandcoreOthersEnterprise Ireland is the primary implementing body for KTI. KTI operates as a function within Enterprise Ireland, which provides funding, operational support, and administrative infrastructure.
• Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE)coreOthersDETE provides governmental oversight and policy direction for knowledge transfer activities in Ireland. KTI is supported under this government department's enterprise and employment mandate.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Innovate UK: UK's national innovation agency that supports business-led R&D and knowledge exchange between research and industry. Closest international structural analog to KTI in mandate, though operates at much larger scale with funding instruments.
• PraxisAuril: UK's professional association for knowledge exchange practitioners, providing training, advocacy, and best-practice resources to university TTOs and KT offices. Closest functional analog to KTI's TTO enablement and IP protocol work.
• Science Foundation Ireland (SFI): Ireland's national research funding agency that works alongside KTI to support research excellence and industry collaboration. Comparable as an Irish state body enabling academic-industry knowledge transfer.

Others

• Enterprise Ireland: KTI's parent organization and implementing body. While not a direct peer (KTI is a function within Enterprise Ireland), it is the closest institutional counterparty and shapes KTI's scope and funding.

Regional players

• NRC IRAP (National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program): Canada's national program supporting SMEs to access R&D funding and research expertise. Comparable in providing structured government-backed facilitation between businesses and the research base.
• Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia: Australia and New Zealand's peak body for knowledge commercialisation practitioners, supporting TTOs and KT offices with training, awards, and best-practice resources. Highly comparable peer geographically distinct from KTI.

Broad incumbents

• Higher Education Authority (HEA) Ireland: Ireland's statutory body overseeing higher education, with overlapping interest in research commercialization and industry engagement. Comparable as a state entity shaping the environment in which KTI operates.
• AUTM (Association of University Technology Managers): Leading US-based nonprofit association for university technology transfer professionals. Comparable in serving as a convener and standards body for academic-industry KT, though operating at a much larger scale and focused on professional development rather than direct facilitation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KTIconnect
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KTIConnectTV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5215956

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ireland - KTI