AgriFood
KTN helps organisations interested in AgriFood innovation access the expert information, funding and connections needed to drive change. Our experts work with businesses of all sizes; locally, nationally and globally.
We create diverse connections to drive positive change.
Innovate UK KTN exists to connect innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking – accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions.
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Creative Industries
Digital
Electronics
Energy
Geospatial
Health
Industrial Maths
Infrastructure
Manufacturing
Materials
Photonics
Robotics & AI
Security & Defence
Sensors
Transport
Water
Covid-19
Global Alliance
Innovation
Investment
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Sustainability
Our Work
Explore the diverse range of UK industries supported by KTN.
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
Water
Covid-19
Global Alliance
Innovation
Investment
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Sustainability
Featured Sector Information
Triple win for UK companies at European healthy ageing innovation event
In March 2023, three UK projects were announced as the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners of the Innovation Pitch competition at AgeingFit, with the first-place winner being recognised as the most innovative project in Europe in the healthy ageing sector.
Read more
The 2023 Accessible and Inclusive Transport Report
Download the March 2023 Accessible and Inclusive Transport Report, published by Innovate UK KTN.
Read more
The UK’s changing rare earth landscape
Could bacteria, ionic liquids and electronic waste help build the UK supply chains and resilience for EVs, wind turbines and laptops?
Read more
New report 'The Human Intestinal Microbiome - Therapies and Diagnostics: The Science, Opportunities and Challenges' published
This deep dive report reviews the landscape of human gut microbiome research and innovation in the UK, focusing on the science, opportunities, and challenges of developing human intestinal microbiome therapies and diagnostics.
Read more
Maritime Innovation Sound Waves Podcast Series
Welcome to the Maritime Innovation Sound Waves Podcast from the Maritime and Ports Innovation Network. During these 20-minute discussions, explore technologies used in the Ports and Maritime sector to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets.
Read more
HydroGenerally - Episode 10: Green Hydrogen Production
Our podcast discusses the importance of green hydrogen production and the expertise of energy specialists that are working in this sector. Innovate UK KTN’s Debra Jones and Simon Buckley are joined by special guest Chris Jackson, CEO & Founder at Protium.
Read more
Making Venture Capital More Inclusive in South Africa
Global Alliance Africa are delighted to present a report prepared by Briter Bridges who have also successfully delivered a stakeholder roundtable and follow-up discussions in order to collate information for this report.
Read more
Battery Caffè Podcast Episode 6: Quantum for Batteries
The Battery Caffè is back and better than ever. In this episode, the podcast discussion is about how advancements in quantum technologies can enable the development of innovative battery applications with our Innovate UK KTN battery and quantum specialists from the Cross-Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network who are joined by special guests from AMTE Power and Quantinuum.
Read more
Biotechnology
The Biotechnology team at KTN focuses on Industrial Biotechnology (IB), Engineering Biology (EB, commonly referred to as Synthetic Biology) and Microbiomes.
Chemistry
By 2050 our industry will have embraced a circular economy and be using different feedstocks, technologies and energy sources to produce chemicals. The KTN Chemistry team can help you navigate these changes and identify innovation that will ensure your business, research or service remains sustainable.
Creative Industries
The KTN Creative team helps organisations interested in innovation in the Creative Industries to access funding, expert knowledge and to make powerful and diverse connections.
Design
Human-centred design is for businesses of any size who are interested in early-stage innovation strategy. For start-ups, strategic design helps get brilliant ideas to the right market. For established businesses, it helps reposition or expand their offering.
Digital
The KTN Digital team helps organisations interested in Digital innovation to access funding, expert knowledge and to make powerful and diverse connections.
Electronics
Electronics is the enabler of all things digital. It is the hardware and embedded software that allows products and processes to communicate, have power, have intelligence and awareness, be controlled, be automated and operate safely. It’s built into many sectors, including health, aerospace, manufacturing and retail.
Energy
KTN’s Energy Team is at the centre of KTN’s work contributing to delivering the UK’s ambitious Net Zero targets. With specialists in Nuclear, Offshore Wind, Thermal Energy Systems, Batteries, Water, Hydrogen, Sustainable Energy, Grid and Distributed Systems, Electrical Energy Systems and Solar, the team has deep expertise, powerful connections and a track record of successful projects delivering environmental and societal impact.
Geospatial
The world is powered by data; turning data into information helps us make decisions across all sectors of the economy. Innovate UK KTN hosts an innovation network that focuses on connecting the data holders and data processors with the people that can benefit from the insight geospatial data can provide.
Health
Health is critical to our wellbeing as individuals, plays a key role in societal and economic advances, and presents many opportunities for environmental impact. Innovations in health & care allow us to alleviate suffering, increase quality of life and life expectancy, and manage the needs of a changing and ageing population.
Industrial Maths
This KTN team harnesses the power of mathematics to meet the needs of business, government and not-for-profit organisations, helping a wide range of sectors express problems and challenges in an accessible way. We also facilitate new partnerships with an extensive network of mathematical science practitioners and diverse institutions across the UK.
Infrastructure
Against an overarching low carbon agenda, our mission is to support the development of UK innovation to deliver clean, accessible and secure energy & water systems through a digitally enabled construction sector and so provide smart, resilient and successful cities and communities.
Manufacturing
KTN’s Manufacturing team helps manufacturers to innovate, and innovators to manufacture. We work with a broad spectrum of organisations, sectors and technology areas, advising on innovation and connecting to partners, experts, facilities and funding.
Materials
The Materials Team in KTN covers a broad scope of the materials life cycle, from feedstock, processing techniques, design and manufacture, testing, standardisation, resource efficiency and circularity.
Photonics
Photonics is the science and technology of light. This includes lasers, optical systems and components, as well as fibre optics. Photonics is a £13.5bn industry in the UK, with the technology used across various UK industries and in society, from optical communications and data storage to laser sensors for autonomous vehicles.
Quantum
Quantum-enabled devices present a huge market opportunity for the UK. These technologies could transform a range of sectors including transport, healthcare, infrastructure, ICT, telecommunications and defence.
Robotics & AI
From Healthcare to Legaltech, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence are significant globalised technologies that can be applied in many sectors. The extensive industrial and academic research base in the UK can support both the national and global markets in addressing key challenges impacting societies today.
Security & Defence
The UK is committed to spending a minimum 2% of GDP on defence over the next decade, and at least 20% of that spending on equipment. This commitment represents spending some £186bn on defence equipment and support in the 10 years from 2018/19. The UK is also the second largest defence exporter, winning defence orders worth £14bn in 2018.
Sensors
Sensor technologies create measurements and convert them into digital data. This data can then be analysed to inform decision making. What’s being measured could be chemical, biological, physical, mechanical or any other quantities such as chemicals, proteins, weight, dimensions and more.
Space
Space is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK, with the ambition to capture 10% of the world market by 2030. Currently, the UK manufactures over 20% of the satellites in orbit and has established a path towards launching satellites from UK soil by 2021.
Transport
Transport connects people, places, goods and services. Innovation in transport has the potential to benefit our economy, society and environment. The transport system of the future will be more efficient, cleaner and smarter, through utilising enhanced digital, communication and autonomous technologies.
Water
The water sector impacts every person, business and industry type in the UK. We turn on the tap and expect clean water. We rely on the water infrastructure, the pipes, the sewerage treatment, the rapid fixing of leaks. And we expect environmental issues to be a cornerstone of the industry and its operations.
Covid-19
Covid-19 continues to be present in our lives at home and at work. KTN is ideally placed to work for the greater good and has already demonstrated its powerful connections through work on the Vaccines Taskforce, the Ventilator Challenge and advising the government on social distancing. We can bring together sectors to work on supply chain issues and our network can be a source of innovative solutions and approaches.
Global Alliance
We want the very best of the world connected to the very best of the UK. That’s why we built this programme; to form international collaborations with governments, societies, enterprises, institutions and people from every corner of the globe. It is innovation diplomacy at its best.
Innovation
We are driving positive economic, societal, and environmental change through innovation.
Investment
We work with public innovation funding and private finance providers where investment can create a positive change.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
For over 45 years Knowledge Transfer Partnerships have been helping businesses innovate for growth by accessing the UK’s world-leading knowledge base.
Sustainability
The world is changing at an ever greater pace. Industry and innovators are responding, working together to create the products, services and businesses of the future. KTN is here to help.
Featured Sector Information
Triple win for UK companies at European healthy ageing innovation event
In March 2023, three UK projects were announced as the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners of the Innovation Pitch competition at AgeingFit, with the first-place winner being recognised as the most innovative project in Europe in the healthy ageing sector.
Read more
The 2023 Accessible and Inclusive Transport Report
Download the March 2023 Accessible and Inclusive Transport Report, published by Innovate UK KTN.
Read more
The UK’s changing rare earth landscape
Could bacteria, ionic liquids and electronic waste help build the UK supply chains and resilience for EVs, wind turbines and laptops?
Read more
New report 'The Human Intestinal Microbiome - Therapies and Diagnostics: The Science, Opportunities and Challenges' published
This deep dive report reviews the landscape of human gut microbiome research and innovation in the UK, focusing on the science, opportunities, and challenges of developing human intestinal microbiome therapies and diagnostics.
Read more
Maritime Innovation Sound Waves Podcast Series
Welcome to the Maritime Innovation Sound Waves Podcast from the Maritime and Ports Innovation Network. During these 20-minute discussions, explore technologies used in the Ports and Maritime sector to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets.
Read more
HydroGenerally - Episode 10: Green Hydrogen Production
Our podcast discusses the importance of green hydrogen production and the expertise of energy specialists that are working in this sector. Innovate UK KTN’s Debra Jones and Simon Buckley are joined by special guest Chris Jackson, CEO & Founder at Protium.
Read more
Making Venture Capital More Inclusive in South Africa
Global Alliance Africa are delighted to present a report prepared by Briter Bridges who have also successfully delivered a stakeholder roundtable and follow-up discussions in order to collate information for this report.
Read more
Battery Caffè Podcast Episode 6: Quantum for Batteries
The Battery Caffè is back and better than ever. In this episode, the podcast discussion is about how advancements in quantum technologies can enable the development of innovative battery applications with our Innovate UK KTN battery and quantum specialists from the Cross-Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network who are joined by special guests from AMTE Power and Quantinuum.
Read more
News
Invest in Innovation: boosting UK innovation and growth
Innovate UK and the London Stock Exchange have created a pioneering partnership to equip innovation-focused businesses for scaling through accessing funding.
Read More
News
£20 million Transformative Technologies fund now open
A new £20m fund for small and micro businesses in the UK that have never been funded by Innovate UK, focused on technologies that are transforming the future of our society and economy.
Read More
News
Hydrogen transport policies and opportunities
To achieve Net Zero Transport by 2050, we will need ammonia and hydrogen fuels. Find out more about the UK's Hydrogen Strategy and Innovate UK KTN's Hydrogen Supply Chain Directory.
Read More
News
Invest in Innovation: boosting UK innovation and growth
Innovate UK and the London Stock Exchange have created a pioneering partnership to equip innovation-focused businesses for scaling through accessing funding.
Read More
News
£20 million Transformative Technologies fund now open
A new £20m fund for small and micro businesses in the UK that have never been funded by Innovate UK, focused on technologies that are transforming the future of our society and economy.
Read More
News
Hydrogen transport policies and opportunities
To achieve Net Zero Transport by 2050, we will need ammonia and hydrogen fuels. Find out more about the UK's Hydrogen Strategy and Innovate UK KTN's Hydrogen Supply Chain Directory.
Read More
News
Achieving net zero in the ruminant livestock industry in the UK and Ireland
To achieve the ambition of Net Zero emissions by 2050 and to limit global warming to 1.5°C, there is an urgent need to implement greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation actions and strategies.
Read more
Funding Opportunities
ISCF SSPP Collecting flexible plastic packaging waste at home
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £250,000 to develop innovative ideas that help with the collection of flexible packaging waste from households.
Opens: 27/02/2023 Closes: 12/04/2023
Innovation Exchange
Net Zero
Global Alliance
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Innovate UK group
Innovate UK group is an ecosystem of expertise, funding, and powerful connections. Learn about how we can each uniquely help you achieve your innovation goals.
