Aston University and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) have announced a strategic partnership designed to accelerate innovation and deliver transformative impact for UK manufacturing.
The collaboration brings together Aston University’s academic excellence and deep industry engagement with the MTC’s cutting-edge technological capabilities. Central to the collaboration is the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) programme — a powerful mechanism for translating research into real-world industrial solutions, now in its 50th year.
KTPs are part-funded by a grant from the UK government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK and connect businesses with academic institutions to drive innovation and growth. Through these partnerships, the MTC and Aston University aim to co-develop strategic projects that embed academic and technological expertise into industry, helping businesses to adopt new technologies, improve processes, and build competitive advantage.
Aston University is a national leader in KTPs and recently ranked in the top 20% of UK universities for ‘working with business’ in the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF4).
The University has a thriving portfolio of 43 active KTP projects and a track record for excellence, with 89% evaluated projects rated from ‘Very good’ to ‘Outstanding’ (2023/2024).
The Aston and MTC partnership will support businesses, particularly SMEs, with accelerating digital transformation, use of AI, sustainable practices and business model innovation. It will also nurture the next generation of talent by placing skilled researchers into industry roles with access to world-class facilities and expert mentorship.
Ken Young, chief technology officer at the MTC, said:
“At the MTC, we believe radical collaboration is the key to meaningful progress. Our partnership with Aston University reflects our shared ambition to empower industry, inspire innovation, and shape the future of UK manufacturing.”
Professor Mike Caine, pro-vice-chancellor, research and enterprise, said:“By combining Aston’s research excellence with the MTC’s pioneering technological capabilities, we are driving forward innovation and helping businesses innovate, grow, and contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous future.”
Paul Warrington, Knowledge Transfer advisor at Innovate UK Business Connect, said:
“KTP projects, now in their 50th year, are unique, wonderfully successful, and incredibly impactful for all involved. This collaboration between Aston University and the-MTC will leverage the acknowledged abilities of both to further engage with the programme and drive the uptake of KTP projects within the manufacturing space. Really looking forward to seeing the innovative outputs for industry as this partnership progresses.”
