Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: Linking occupational therapy and academia into the corporate sector.

Introduction: A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a graduate entry funded programme by Technology Strategy board to facilitate a three-way partnership between a graduate, a organisation (business, third sector, or public body) and a university or further education institutions (known as the ‘knowledge base’) (KTP 2011). Methods: This seminar will present information on KTP and its application to Occupational Therapy. Focusing on an existing KTP project: showering for people with physical disability living at home, the occupational therapist based in a commercial company, Disability Needs, links with the University of Ulster to influence policy and change shower design. Topics for discussion include; benefits to occupational therapy with KTP; the application process alongside the methods used in the project.Results/Conclusions: This seminar will increase the awareness of KTP, the benefits for therapists, organisations and the knowledge base, including academic staff, and give participants the information to pursue KTP opportunitiesImpact on service users: KTP can lead to product and/or service developments that lead to better outcomes for service users in the public and privately funded sectors.Implications for OT: KTP provide opportunities for occupational therapists, especially new graduates, to advance their practice with access to a certificate in management, post-graduate courses, and other development opportunities, while employing appropriate research methods in a practical environment. It can also provide a means for the profession to function in non-traditional roles, expanding the profession into organisations without an OT role. KTP also allows academic staff to apply knowledge to functioning organisations.