1. EPRSC Knowledge Transfer Account (KTA)
Whistle stop tour of the UoM Knowledge Transfer account.
Brief background of the EPSRC KTA award to UoM
Summary of KTA Mechanisms and whether they are classed as ‘research’ or ‘non-research’
Lifecycle of a KTA project – ‘pre’ and ‘post’ award
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2. Background EPSRC KTA
University of Manchester awarded the largest KTA Award of £8.3m
Started in October 2009
4 funding calls to date
Ends 30 September 2012
EPSRC awarded 12 Universities with a Knowledge Transfer Accounts and UoM received the highest award of £8.3m. The KTA differs fundamentally from the usual EPSRC grants you may be accustomed to and is not governed by the same rules.
KTAs awarded must be spent by 30 Sep 2012 – no extensions will be permitted
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3. KTA Support Mechanisms
Secondment Scheme
exploitation secondments
exploration secondments
Concept Development and Feasibility Studies
Knowledge Transfer Fellows scheme
Knowledege Transfer Partnerships
Development of Licensable Technology
Continuing Professional Development
Joint horizon- scanning and scenario-modelling
UoMs KTA involves the development of a comprehensive portfolio of flexible support mechanisms designed to enable all EPSRC researchers the opportunity to overcome barriers, as they arise, in all possible routes to exploitation or application of their EPSRC research base.
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4. Overview of KTA support mechanisms
Concept Development and Feasibility Studies - the development of early evaluation prototypes or ‘demonstrators’, by initial trials in a particular field, or by ‘scoping exercises’ (KTA awards up to £30k)
Secondment Scheme -
exploitation secondments focused directly on the development of specific research outputs;
exploration secondments which enable companies to explore the opportunities offered by particular research areas, or academics to explore the application possibilities for their research.
(KTA awards up to £60k)
C&F – short term, early stage projects, direct company contribution not mandatory but will strengthen proposal, awards up to £30k. 9 awards following first 3 calls.
Exploitations secondments – could be a a university employee visiting and working with a company or working in the Uni on a company project. 9 awards following first 3 calls.
Exploration secondments – freeing up staff time to explore opportunities, no specific piece of work to be delivered. 4 awards following first 3 calls
Secondments – can be part time, typical duration 12 months, awards up to £60k
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5. Knowledge Transfer Fellows scheme –This scheme will underwrite the employment of full time ‘KT Fellows’ to respond to demand for short term application projects from a range of companies
Knowledege Transfer Partnerships - The delivery of new knowledge/technology into the company partner, to develop new or enhanced product, process, way of working.
Development of Licensable Technology funding available to support the identification of fields of application, and/or the early stage development of licensable technologies, managed through UMIP Ltd
KT Fellows – last call 26 May 2010 due to demand for finding and the nature of scheme being two year minimum duration (KTA spend by Sep 2012) – 7 awards following first 3 calls (multiple short term projects for multiple companies)
KTP – National scheme. Minimum term 18 months, rising in 3 month increments. Budgets are set at national level (standard KTP budget approx £60k per year) – monthly deadlines
UMIP – limited company which was set up to assist with commercialising relevant Uni research results.
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6. Continuing Professional Development
Horizon Scanning and Scenario Modelling
Facilitated events
CPD and Horizon Scanning calls not yet announced
KTA office will be releasing a 6 month progress report imminently.
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7. R or P Codes?!! KTA Call background Frascati definition of research
R Codes :
Concept and Feasibility
Exploitation Secondments
KT Fellows
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
KTA Call background – When the KTA call went out from EPSRC, they were keen to ensure that Universities did not see this as a pot of money for fundamental research. This does not mean that KTAs do not support R&D, it just means that they do not support fundamental research that EPSRC has already funded.
Frascati - The majority of work funded under that KTA falls under the Frascati definition of research in two of it’s basic activities:
applied research and experimental development
R & P Codes: After many discussions and much toing and froing, it was decided which KTA mechanisms would fall under R or P codes.
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8. P Codes Exploration Secondments Horizon Scanning CPD
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9. KTA Process Flowchart
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10. KTA Flowchart Business Relations
Once the University decided which KTA mechanisms could be classed as ‘research’ or ‘non-research’ a process flowchart was developed and rolled out to all Faculties in April this year. See handouts. Also a table detailing internal recording and the interface from RMS to Oracle financials. Note that each thread is for each mechanism
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11. Pre Award Research Manager costs KTA application RMS input
KTA-R for research
KTA-NR for non-research
KTA Application
RM costs KTA application in liaison with PI and KTA team. Eligible costs vary between KTA mechanisms, see guidance notes and refer to KTA team. KTA will award up to 80% of total project costs. The additional 20% can come from direct company contribution or School sustainability
RMS input – two new project types have been created in RMS
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12. KTA Application Process
- application forms and guidance notes
Initial assessment by KTA team
KT Schemes Panel
Key points:
Non specialist audience
Liaise with KTA team
KTA awards up to 80% Total Project Costs
Strongly advise applicants to consult with the KTA Development Managers at least one month prior to submitting.
Applications will be assessed by the KTA team before being sent to the KT Schemes Panel for consideration. KTA team can pull an application if they consider it does not meet the aims of that specific KTA mechanism
KT Schemes Panel – academics from across EPS Faculty (including members of EAC and Research Committee) and representatives from other faculties.
Key points: liaise with KTA team for advice and guidance regarding content and budget
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13. Application submission:
KTA application form
Research Proposal Approval Form
pFACT costing report
Submit to Rupa Sharma by 12noon on deadline day
KTPs:
Two stage process
Expression of interest
Full application
Electronic submission OK for deadline purposes but signed hard copy must follow within 2 days of deadline.
KTPs – national process. Outline application two months prior to full KTP deadline. KTA team will develop a proposal to pass to the KTP regional advisor
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14. Post Award KTA awarded or rejected KTA Grant Offer Letter
Research Managers updates RMS
KTA Office notified of finance code
Contract negotiation
Financial management of project
Project reporting
KTA office will advise the PI, RM, URO and finance of decision
GOL – signed acceptance form to be returned within 30 days
RMS updated – award or reject
Contract negotiated via URO.
School post award staff continue with financial management of project.
Reporting – interim review reports to be completed to look at how projects are progressing against their original objectives. Final report to be sent at the end of the project.
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15. KTA Team
Miranda McCormick – Head of KTA Team (Schools of Maths, Chemistry and Faculty of Life Sciences)
Mark Godber – Business Development Manager (Schools of CEAS, MACE, Computer Science and Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences)
Cecilia Barr – Business Development Manager (Schools of Physics & Astronomy, SEAES, Materials, E&EE, Faculty of Humanities)
Rupa Sharma – Project Administration Officer
Connie Funke-Dooley – Administrative Assistant
KTA Team is a central office which sits within the Business Relations department of the University.
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16. Future calls Call 5 - 16 July 2010 – 12 noon
2010/11 calls to be announced
KTP applications on-going
KTA Project Administration Officer
Rupa Sharma
Tel:  
B48 Sackville Building
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