Meet the Knowledge Transfer Partnership team, Sandra Johnson (left) and Ashley Foskett (right)
For each edition of Research Connect, we shine a spotlight on a team or member of the Department of Research and Innovation. This month, we’re featuring the Knowledge Transfer Partnership team. Read on to learn who they are and how they can support you.
Can you tell us a little about your role, and what it involves?
Sandra Johnson: I am the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Manager in the Department of Research and Innovation. My role focuses on three key areas: strategic development, where I lead strategy to grow and diversify our KTP portfolio across the university, aligning it with institutional priorities and national Industrial Strategy; capacity building, providing tailored training and coaching to academic researchers to help them understand the value of KTPs and engage effectively with business partners; and project shaping and support, where I work closely with academics and external organisations to develop high-quality, competitive, and impactful KTP applications. Ultimately, my role is about bridging the gap between academia and industry, enabling collaborative innovation that delivers real-world benefits.
Ashley Foskett: My role is primarily focused on KTP support, both pre and post award, however I am involved in a number of activities outside of this, including: business engagement, marketing, facilitating knowledge exchange between academia and industry, and supporting the innovation team with project execution and development.
What do you enjoy most about working in research and innovation and what challenges do you face?
Ashley: There are a number of things I enjoy about working in R&I. I love how energised the people I work with are; being able to support with a project and contribute to its success is very rewarding. It is also great to work with such a diverse range of companies and learn more about industry, as this is new to me. Finally, I love to champion our fantastic academics and emphasise how impactful the work they are doing is and try to find ways to implement this work into innovative projects. One challenge I am facing at the moment is articulating innovation to a business audience; why it is needed and how it can help a company to grow or develop. Another challenge I have faced this year is how best to market our offering to our desired audience.
Sandra: What I enjoy most is supporting a wide range of research and innovation projects through KTPs and seeing academic research make a tangible difference. Each partnership is unique, co-creating products, services, or processes that drive economic growth and social impact. Some projects have had profound effects on communities and the environment. I’m especially proud that a KTP led by Professor Jim Briggs from the School of Computing recently won the Silver Medal at the KTP Golden Awards, which celebrated the most impactful partnerships of the past 50 years. As for challenges, the higher education sector faces increasing pressure to deliver more with fewer resources, compounded by the UK’s current economic downturn, weak GDP growth, falling business investment, and rising costs that make long-term commitments harder for companies.
What are your priorities/hopes for research and innovation at the University in the coming year?
Ashley: The main priority is to align our work with the recently published Industrial Strategy, namely in building the KTP portfolio to more closely align with each specified sector of the IS8. Additionally, we would like to continue to prioritise projects/collaboration with companies in the regional area. My hope for R&I over the coming year is that we continue to showcase and support activities across the University, as it is of vital importance, both economically and societally.
Sandra: The UK funding landscape is evolving, with a growing emphasis on universities contributing to regional economic development. At UoP, we have a strong reputation for delivering successful KTPs and a proven track record in securing funding. As a team, our priority for the coming year is to expand UoP's KTP portfolio, engaging a broader range of academic staff and disciplines. Ultimately, I want to position the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú as the go-to innovation partner for businesses in our region, where companies see the tremendous value of collaborate with us to solve challenges, drive growth, and create lasting impact.