Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: frequently asked questions

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1 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: frequently asked questions Eligibility How is a Queensland based SME defined? A Queensland based SME (Small to Medium Enterprise) is a business with less than 200 employees that has a Queensland registered head office, and/or conducts its activities from facilities physically located in Queensland. Your Australian business number (ABN) must show your current main business location as being within Queensland. Where a SME (entity) is part of a larger group, the company size is determined by the number of employees in the entire group. Is a not-for-profit organisation eligible to apply? The program is primarily aimed at small and medium enterprises in the private for-profit sector with a view to lifting profitability and increasing jobs. However it is recognised that some not-for-profits might have a similar profile and with support for a strategic project be able to improve business models, increase the reach of service delivery, and grow economic benefits. If other program criteria are met, applications from not for profits will be considered. Does a business need a university partner to apply? Yes, a business needs to have a university partner to apply for funding under the program. You will need to contact a participating university to talk about the project you have in mind. If the university agrees to partner you and find a graduate for your project, the next step is to prepare a joint application. My business has agreed to partner with a university on a project under the KTP program. What do I do next? The next steps would be to: together with the university, finalise the details of the project prepare and submit a joint application with the university read and accept the program terms and conditions if the application is approved, accept or decline the letter of offer in conjunction with the university partner, decide on the best way to recruit a graduate deliver the project as set out in the guidelines and terms and conditions provide documentation when required (graduate employment contact and final/graduate report).

2 Can a business have more than one university partner in a joint application for a project? No, a business can only have one university partner when applying for funding for a specific project. Graduate I am a graduate interested in participating in the KTP program. How do I register my interest? If the university you attended\are attending is participating in the KTP program, you can register your interest with the nominated contact officer. What level of graduate can apply? Graduates with a completed Bachelor s degree with Honours, Master s degree, or a PhD in any discipline from a Queensland based university. The graduate must have obtained their qualification no more than two years before the date of application. Students currently undertaking a PhD or MPhil who have submitted their thesis, but have not yet graduated, may also be considered. Who recruits and employs the graduate? The business and their university partner agree on the best way to recruit the graduate. The business will be the graduate s employer and is responsible for ensuring that the graduate wages reflect minimum wage conditions from either registered agreement, award or legislation. For further details, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman or call Can a business employ a graduate who is not/has not been connected to the university partner? The business and their university partner need to agree on the best graduate for the project, who would normally have/have had a connection to the university. Can a business employ more than one graduate for a single project? No, under the program guidelines, only one graduate can be employed (per project per business). Can a graduate be a former employee of the business? No, under the program guidelines, the graduate must not be a family relative of the business s management staff, an existing or previous employee or a recipient of scholarships from the business. Will the graduate be working full time or part time? The graduate can work either full time or part time, as agreed with the business. Page 2

3 Can the graduate carry out the project interstate, or in premises other than the one stated on the application? The graduate needs to work at the business premises stated in the application. The activities of the business must be conducted from facilities physically located in Queensland. Funding Can the business include its overheads, operating costs, management wages and salaries as contributions? No, under the program guidelines, the one-third grant contribution must be a cash contribution, inkind contributions, including business overheads, operational costs, management wages and salaries etc., are not considered cash expenditure. When is the grant funding paid? Two payments will be made to the business: payment one on submission of an employment contract between the graduate and the business. payment two on completion of the project and acceptance of a final report. Could the KTP program fund activities connected with a project that has been submitted for, or which has received, funding from another government funding program? Yes, but evidence must be provided that the activities to be funded through the KTP program are not already being funded from the other government funding program (e.g. no double-dipping). Application When are applications submitted and assessed? Applications can be submitted to the department at any time. They will be assessed on a quarterly basis. How long will the KTP program be offered? Under Advance Queensland, three years of funding has been allocated to the KTP for the life of the program, unless otherwise determined. Can a business apply for more than one KTP grant over the life of the program? Yes, but only one KTP project can be funded for any business at a time. After the successful completion of a KTP project, the business and a university partner can apply for a grant for an unrelated project. Page 3

4 Are the Terms and Conditions negotiable? No, the applicant will be bound by the Terms and Conditions, which form part of the application and guidelines. The application form does not give me enough space to respond to a question. The text fields contained in the application form have been restricted to word/character limits considered appropriate for each question and these limits cannot be extended. However, applicants can refer to web sites or attach important documents to the application (within allowable document size limits). Is it safe to include confidential information in the on-line application form? Yes it is safe. The online lodgement process is hosted via a secure site. Application documentation will remain strictly confidential. Conducting the Project Who owns the Intellectual Property (IP)? All IP created during the Project is owned by the Company Partner/Applicant. Any IP created or owned prior to the Project remains the property of the party that created/owns it. Under the program, the Company Partner engages the graduate as an employee and is required to comply with relevant Australian workplace laws. The graduate would be subject to the employment policies of the Company Partner and be bound by any employment contract signed between him/her and the Company Partner (subject to Australian workplace laws). If the Company Partner and graduate wish to enter into a special arrangement regarding IP created out of the Project, nothing prohibits them from doing so. However, it is recommended that this be in the form of a written legal agreement signed by the parties and adequately referencing the Project. It is also recommended that in this situation each party obtain appropriate independent legal advice. Will my company and project information remain confidential? All application documentation will remain strictly confidential. All parties, including the government, knowledge based partner and company partner must not disclose each other s confidential information without prior written consent (unless authorised by law of Parliament). The graduate will be subject to the confidentiality requirements under his/her employment contract with the Company Partner. Page 4

5 Assessment/Approval How will applications be assessed? Applications will be assessed: through a competitive, merit-based process, against the program s assessment criteria by a panel of assessors with relevant small business, scientific, research, and/or commercial backgrounds. Will the assessment criteria be weighted? Yes they will. Assessment criteria 1 3 are weighted most heavily. Projects that do not score highly on Assessment Criteria 1 3 will not be successful, regardless of the score on the remaining criterion. Page 5