Welcome to a series of blogs and vlogs designed to help you better understand Management Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (MKTPs).

Management KTPs are a funding opportunity aimed at helping UK businesses improve the way they work.

They are built on the highly successful Knowledge Transfer Partnership model – the UK’s longest running knowledge exchange programme which has helped more than 14,000 businesses innovate for growth.

Like KTPs, Management KTP’s link you in a collaborative partnership with specialist academics who have the know-how to help you transform the way your business operates. 

In this V/blog (one in a series – see links to others below), Professor David Bamford, of Manchester Metropolitan University, explains the benefits to Academics of engaging in Management KTP.

• Register here for our Management KTP Webinar, 10-11.30 on Tuesday 27 April

HOW ACADEMICS CAN BENEFIT FROM ENGAGING IN MKTP – Professor David Bamford,, Chair in Operations Management, Manchester Metropolitan University 

“I’d like to talk to you today about why academics should get involved in Management Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

Four immediate reasons come to mind: 

• The first: Management Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, or mKTPs, enable the application of evidence-based frameworks, theories and models to solve real-world problems.  The companies that most benefit from these are typically SMEs in my experience.  They really value the introduction to the concept of evidence-based management, specifically when it’s applied to an internal issue that is of strategic relevance.
• Secondly: mKTPs are truly multidisciplinary – drawing expertise together from across university departments.  In recent projects we have had human resource specialists working with psychologists, operations systems and quality management experts, and augmented reality and virtual reality colleagues.

This cross discipline collegiate approach is hugely beneficial for increasing communication within and across the University – which can only be a good thing with regards to fertilisation of new ideas, synergies, et cetera.

• Thirdly: mKTPs need to be novel and almost experimental in nature. Whilst fulfilling a business need they can act as a test bed for truly innovative approaches. 

They could include the application of technology to deliver culture change.  For example, the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to change behaviours within an organisation, by showing how data can be turned into information to increase the accuracy of operational prediction, which in turn increases control and reduces risk.

• Fourthly: in summary it’s really all about impact – mKTPs deliver research funding, conference papers, industry white papers, and can lead to peer reviewed academic journal papers.  Why should academics get involved in mKTPs? – because they actually make a difference.”

Interested in finding out more about MKTP?

• Register here for our Management KTP Webinar, 10-11.30 on Tuesday 27 April
• Find out more about MKTP on our webpage
• Locate and contact your nearest Knowledge Transfer Adviser to discuss your idea

This is one in a series of V/blogs about Management KTP

Mark Lynch: Introducing MKTP

Mark Lynch: How does Management KTPs Funding work

Jan Stringer: The benefits of Academic Collaboration

Jim Berryman:What are MKTPs for?

Fiona Nightingale: Why Now is the time to engage in Management KTP

Dr Lorna Howarth and Dr Gordon Jack: Interview Management KTP Associate Dr Gordon Jack, IPIG LTD

Prof David Bamford (Manchester Metropolitan University): Why Academics should engage in MKTP

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Use Management KTP to:

• Access deep knowledge to solve key strategic challenges
• Apply fresh thinking to transform a wide range business activities 
• Create business-wide change to increase productivity, adaptability and resilience
• Introduce a culture of innovation for lasting, positive change.

Management Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are funded by the UK Government Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy through Innovate UK and delivered by KTN in partnership with Knowledge Bases.