A successful University of Wolverhampton Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme has been selected as a finalist for its innovation in the KTP Awards 2022. The KTP programme with Johnson Test Papers has been nominated in the Business Impact and Transformation award category which recognises a partnership that has continued to demonstrate outstanding impact.  

 

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), organised by Innovate UK KTN, connect businesses with academia to deliver innovation projects led by graduates. The KTP Awards celebrate the most creative, effective and interesting people and projects out of around 800 KTPs that are active right now.  

Innovate UK KTN helps innovators, who are focused on some of the world’s most pressing problems, accelerate their ambitious ideas into real-world, commercial solutions. It does this through connecting businesses with new partners, ideas or academia. Innovate UK KTN is part of the Innovate UK Group – the UK’s innovation agency. 

Johnson Test Papers, based in Oldbury, West Midlands, has been manufacturing easy to use rapid tests since 1938 offering a broad range of products covering simple pH testing, water analysis, production processes and measurements of special food parameters.

The successful programme, run in partnership with Johnson Test Papers, was established to undertake complex product development in the manufacture of novel portable reagent test kits for testing for pollutants in water, sewage, soils and gases. The KTP led to the development of over 20 new testing kits and allowed Johnson Test Papers to increase their product portfolio as well as enter new markets driven by growing environmental legislation. 

Emma Pearson, KTP Manager at the University, said: “The Awards recognise the people and partnerships behind the most inspiring and successful KTP projects in the UK, so we are delighted the University and JTP have been shortlisted for this award.” 

Dr Greg Mann, Research and Development Manager at Johnson Test Papers said: “This was our second KTP with the University of Wolverhampton. It has again provided a bridge between our manufacturing expertise and the knowledge provided by the associate, accelerating product development and allowing for greater opportunities worldwide.” 

The ceremony will take place at St. George’s Hall in Liverpool on 12 October and will highlight the fantastic work of Innovate UK’s KTP programme. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) aim to help businesses improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills within the UK knowledge base.