Knowledge Transfer Manager – Emerging Technologies and Industries: Knowledge Transfer Network

Innovate UK KTN 2025 Strategy  

We connect ideas, people and communities to drive innovation that changes lives.

Innovation is complex. The journey from idea to market is not straightforward and requires a diverse range of know-how, investment, market knowledge and research. KTN exists to connect innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking – accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions.

The future holds both challenges and opportunities. We are passionate about working with innovative businesses to overcome these challenges and shape the opportunities and solutions that follow.

Our vision is to create a network of innovators so powerful its ideas will change the world.

While business is at the heart of our work, our diverse connections span government, funders, research and the third sector. This unrivalled overview and connectivity enable us to be a trusted guide through a complex global landscape of research, development and innovation. Over the next five years, we will build collaborations at a local, national and global level.

Purpose of the role

Emerging Technologies represent a step change from existing technologies and are usually still close to the academic / science base. They might be low on the Technology Readiness Level, with improvements required in their performance, but they have the potential to disrupt the market and generate great commercial impact. 

We are looking for a determined, bright, analytical and goal-orientated individual to join our Emerging Technologies team. The post requires someone with a science or engineering background, but also someone with a general enthusiasm across all branches of science and technology, to provide business support to companies and identify new applications of Emerging Technologies. 

The post will be extremely varied but will initially focus on continuing the existing projects in Neurotechnology and assessing how this work could be expanded to include a broader remit of Human Augmentation. 

The successful candidate will also be required to work closely with our team of Knowledge Transfer Advisors, to build relationships with their Technology Transfer groups to help identify new Emerging Technologies with application across other sectors and to help stimulate the adoption of new technologies from the research base.

Scope

This role will work closely with other Innovate UK KTN sector teams to identify and understand how technologies/industries relate to other emerging and established sectors, , with a particular focus on neurotechnology and human augmentation. Time will also be spent either supporting the existing projects of the broader team, or developing new projects in the form of an Innovation Network or shorter projects to scope out the potential for very early technologies. (Innovation Networks are a very high-profile activity at Innovate UK KTN and a mechanism for delivering cross convening activity with cross disciplinary teams. They are strategically important, innovative and have external visibility.)

Approximately one third of the role will also support Innovate UK KTN’s broader business development activities – helping to expand our portfolio of customers and working on a more diverse set of projects across the business.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Building and maintaining a good rapport with key stakeholders in emerging technologies from relevant companies, universities, research & technology organisations, government departments.
• Facilitating collaborations and investment that drive innovation in the UK.
• Identifying and prioritising emerging technologies and industries to form new communities where there is a compelling case for a new Innovation Network.
• Working with Sector teams within Innovate UK KTN and Innovate UK, and external businesses to identify new applications of Emerging Technologies in different markets, with a particular focus on how to expand the neurotechnology activity.
• Identifying income generating projects and proposal writing.
• Delivery of Innovate UK KTN plans.
• To directly engage with University groups and businesses through making new connections and collaborations, both within and across evolving supply chains, and providing access to funding.
• To design, plan and deliver events and workshops and author reports if applicable.
• To actively facilitate and contribute to cross-sector collaborations.
• To track outcomes resulting from Innovate UK KTN interventions, seeking case studies and metrics capture.
• To contribute to Innovate UK KTN-wide internal communications and projects, helping colleagues as required.
• To support KPI delivery and provide regular reporting of activity and outcomes. 

Requirements of the Role

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in science or engineering, or relevant industrial experience in a science / technology-based business, PhD Desirable.
• In-depth knowledge of one area of science or engineering.
• A broad interest across other scientific disciplines.
• Ideally awareness of the innovation grant funding landscape.

Skills 

• Comfort in communicating across all levels of an organisation.
• Well-developed written & verbal skills, able to translate complex topics for a broad audience.
• IT literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft packages.
• Good presentation skills.
• Motivated & a self-starter.
• Ability to work alone & part of a team.
• Able to deliver effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Adaptable & reliable with good interpersonal & time management skills.
• A good networker.

Benefits

• This role has a salary between £38,000 – £42,000 pa depending on experience.
• 28 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, pro rata for the year and if part time.
• Enhanced Pension Plan, up to 10% company contribution.
• Life Assurance.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Wider Wallet employee benefits high street discounts scheme.
• Opportunities for continuous professional development as part of our Talent & Development Programme.

This advert will close on Friday 4th March 2022, though some circumstances may require us to close earlier, so early application is advised.

Please apply by submitting a tailored cover letter outlining your suitability with specifics relating to the requirements of the role, and your CV outlining your experience.

The postholder will be home based or out of our London, Harwell or Edinburgh offices with frequent UK travel.

Applicants must have the existing and ongoing right to work in the U.K. without restrictions as sponsorship for visas is not provided.

Unfortunately, owing to the high number of applications received, we can only provide feedback to applicants selected for interview.

Should you wish to discuss this opportunity further, please contact the Recruitment Team by email to recruitment@ktn-uk.org