Five Knowledge Transfer Partnerships between the University of Salford and businesses across the region have been given a 'Very Good' grading by Innovate UK. The collaborations helped organisations innovate, build new capabilities and drive business growth.
The projects were delivered with KP Acoustics, Greenjets, Valves Instruments Plus (VIP) Ltd, Farrat and Irwin Mitchell. They show how businesses can work with the University to access specialist expertise, speed up innovation and turn research into practical solutions.
The partnerships helped organisations develop new technologies, strengthen digital skills, improve workplace wellbeing and tackle complex business challenges across five different sectors.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are partly funded by Innovate UK. They bring together a business, a university and a dedicated KTP Associate to solve strategic challenges through research and innovation. The University of Salford has been part of the programme since it launched in 1975, when it was one of the original pilot universities. It has spent more than 50 years helping organisations turn research into real-world impact.
With acoustic consultancy KP Acoustics, researchers developed an intelligent soundscape system that creates personalised, adaptive sound environments. The aim is to make workplaces healthier, more comfortable and less distracting. The project combined expertise in acoustics and human perception to turn research into a prototype with commercial potential.
Led by Professor Torija Martinez of the Salford Acoustics Innovation Institute, another project worked with Greenjets to develop tools that help engineers design quieter electric propulsion systems for drones and future aircraft. The project made it possible to predict and reduce noise from the earliest stages of design. It strengthened the University's expertise in this growing field while allowing Greenjets to include noise considerations throughout the propulsion system development cycle. That lets the company find optimal, cost-effective designs early on, reducing the need for expensive redesigns and speeding up the development of quieter, more sustainable aviation technology.
With engineering supplier Valves Instruments Plus (VIP) Ltd, the University helped the business adopt Building Information Modelling (BIM). This means VIP products can be specified much earlier in construction projects.
The partnership with Farrat translated pioneering work on thermal bridges into practical tools. These help architects and engineers reduce heat loss in buildings. The project deepened the University's expertise in sustainable construction and laid the groundwork for continued work on retrofitting and low-carbon building design.
Working with Irwin Mitchell, the project embedded artificial intelligence and data science within one of the UK's leading law firms. By developing new machine learning tools and building in-house skills, the partnership is helping the firm use data better to improve client services, support business decisions and drive future growth.
All five partnerships received a 'Very Good' grading following assessment by Innovate UK. That grading recognises the quality of the collaborations and the impact they delivered for both the businesses and the University.
These partnerships reflect The Power of Us, the University's rallying call and shared story of progress, resilience and achievement built on teamwork.
Susan Suttle, Knowledge Transfer Adviser at Innovate UK Business Connect, said:
"These five 'Very Good' gradings are a strong endorsement of the quality, ambition and impact of the University of Salford's Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. Each project shows how KTPs can help businesses access world-class academic expertise, embed new knowledge and deliver practical innovation that supports growth, productivity and long-term capability."
Professor Mandy Parkinson, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Knowledge Exchange at the University of Salford, said:
"These partnerships demonstrate what can be achieved when academia and industry come together to tackle complex challenges. Working closely with our partners, we are driving innovation, supporting business growth and creating positive impact across the region.
"We're delighted that all five partnerships have been recognised by Innovate UK as 'Very Good'. It's a fantastic achievement and a testament to the commitment and collaboration of everyone involved."
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are one of the ways the University of Salford works with organisations to turn research into practical solutions. Alongside consultancy, collaborative research and innovation programmes, they allow businesses to access specialist expertise, develop new technologies, improve processes and bring innovative ideas to market.
