Funding and partnerships

Finance is often a big barrier to business growth, however by working with Herts, you can access funding that significantly reduces the cost of research and development projects that drive your business forwards. You’ll be supported by our industry-driven researchers, a very talented pool of students and world-class facilities.

Knowledge Exchange, working together to add value to your business

We’re passionate about working with businesses to solve their challenges through our research and expertise. Knowledge Exchange brings this to life by providing your business with a University researcher, who is an expert in your field. Sending our researchers into industry helps businesses, whilst ensuring that our research is always relevant and contributes to training the next generation of talent through up-to-date teaching.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) enable us to provide your business with a researcher whose expertise matches your strategic needs. A research associate will also be placed into your business to work on the designated project, for between 12 and 36 months.
Grant funding from Innovate UK can provide up to two-thirds of the project costs for small and medium-sized business and up to half of the cost for large businesses.
We’ve obtained funding for over 100 KTPs to date and our dedicated team will support you through the application process and the entirety of the partnership.
Hertfordshire Knowledge Exchange Partnerships
Hertfordshire Knowledge Exchange Partnerships (HKEP) support businesses working in the life-science and agri-technology sectors with leading academics in those fields. The partnership injects new skills and capabilities into your business and supports with new product or service development.
HKEPs run over four years - in year one, our PhD researcher will undertake a commercially focused project to deliver immediate results to your business. In the remaining three years, they will focus on a research project that delivers strategic and competitive benefits. Commissioned HKEPs come with a significant subsidy to small and medium sized enterprises that can reduce costs by up to two-thirds.
KEEP +
KEEP+ provides businesses with flexible innovation opportunities, with a focus on the development of new products and services. The programme provides small and medium-sized enterprises with matched funding, allowing knowledge exchange through academic expertise and graduate talent.
Short-term research projects
Our research teams can help your business with short-term projects, where you may not have the facilities or capabilities in-house. We can advise on solutions that will solve your business needs, such as research and development projects to fill skills gaps, or by giving you access to our world-class facilities to undertake the research yourself. Small and medium sized enterprises can access our funding streams that significantly reduce the cost of these projects.
Intellectual property and licensing
We work with commercial partners to increase the impact of our research, through the licensing of research, ideas and new products. We hold a unique portfolio of intellectual property opportunities, which can be licensed to commercial organisations on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis. These can be co-developed through collaboration or supported by our academic experts, to deliver solution that benefits your business.

See how we can help your business

News Case Studies

Prestigious Fellowship awarded to Herts academic

Professor Ljubomir Jankovic has become a Fellow of the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA), given to individuals who have attained distinction in the field of building performance simulation....

New research into supporting families eligible for free school meals in the East of England during the pandemic

A study of households, community volunteers and local authority and health and care professionals involved in the provision of food in the East of England has found that many families with school-aged children reported difficulties in accessing food during the...

Study proves that wish fulfilment experiences deliver life-enhancing benefits for children with life-limiting conditions

Increased confidence (70%), self-esteem (76%), feeling empowered to achieve life goals (73%) and developing new skills (61%) are the key impacts wish fulfilment experiences can provide to children and young...

New project aims to improve hospital care for people with dementia

A team of researchers from the University of Hertfordshire, Leeds Beckett University and the University of Nottingham have been awarded over £300,000 of funding from the Alzheimer’s Society to co-design...

New University of Hertfordshire partnership to create instant opioid overdose tests

The University of Hertfordshire has joined forces with Animal Free Research UK to develop a new rapid test that will immediately detect whether somebody is experiencing an opioid overdose, allowing...

Innovative collaboration launched to combat crop disease

An ambitious collaboration between the John Innes Centre and the University of Hertfordshire will fast track urgently needed solutions to the growing problem of crop diseases....

University of Hertfordshire’s contribution to local growth and regeneration recognised in Research England’s Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF)

The University of Hertfordshire has been recognised for the diverse contribution it makes to local growth and regeneration, the quality of its research partnerships and its work with the public...

Dementia: is processed meat another risk factor?

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University of Hertfordshire confirms its commitment to supporting the career development of researchers

The University of Hertfordshire has confirmed its commitment, which started in 2010, to the revised Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers published in September 2019. This is an agreement...

Renovos partners with Herts to strengthen regenerative medicine that could heal bone damage without invasive surgery

Herts and Renovos strengthen regenerative medicine that could heal bone damage without invasive surgery....

Labelling solutions business drives growth through product testing at the University

Welwyn Garden City based business, Silver Fox, explain how the University and it's engineering department have supported them with successful product testing....

£3.5 million climate change fund established to shake agri-food sector

A consortium of leading scientific research and academic institutions have come together to identify innovative solutions to tackle climate change linked to the agri-food sector....

Hertfordshire Knowledge Exchange Partnership contributes significant research to the life sciences industry

University of Hertfordshire PhD student James Fortune is in his second year of a Hertfordshire Knowledge Exchange Partnership (HKEP), contributing significant research to the life sciences industry on behalf of...

A decision-support system for the NHS

As the UK population ages, and demand for health care continues to exceed supply, NHS managers need to be able to make the most out of scarce resources....

RGH Rubber strengthens commercial capacity through Knowledge Transfer Partnership

RGH Rubber, a manufacturer, convertor and distributer of foam and tape technologies, was able to strengthen its commercial capacity and internal processes by engaging in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with...

Novel drug technology developed at the University of Hertfordshire

Fluid Pharma, in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire and IP Group, are developing a novel controlled-release liquid drug formulation which will transform drug intake methods for the elderly and...

Partnership forging the way in pharmaceutical product design methodologies

We have launched a three year Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Consort Medical – Bespak Drug Delivery Devices, a global market leader in the development and manufacturing of drug delivery devices....

Abigail Martin takes her health technology research global

University of Hertfordshire PhD student Abigail Martin has returned from the trip of a lifetime, after exhibiting her cutting-edge health technology research across the world....