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PTP (Postgraduate Training Partnerships)

The PTP initiative, which is jointly supported by DTI and EPSRC, involves eight selected Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) each in partnership with a university. Each year the eight partnerships aim to recruit around 7 postgraduate students (PTP Associates).

Five PTPs have been operating since 1992 and an additional three partnerships recruited their first PTP Associates in October 1996. However, the 'original' five PTPs recruited their last intake of PTP Associates in October 1999 and the final Intake of PTP Associates for the three newer PTPs will be in October 2000.

EPSRC have offered the 5 'original' PTPs four industrial case studentships for an intake of Associates in 2000. They will be ordinary EPSRC Industrial Case Awards operating under normal EPSRC rules. Matching funding will not be available from DTI.

The PTP Associates, most supported by an EPSRC 'Industrial CASE' award, register for a higher degree (normally a three year PhD) and undertake industrially relevant research projects in an RTO under the joint supervision of academics and RTO staff. The aim is to increase the output of high quality postgraduates with skills, experience and training relevant to the needs of industry.

No direct Government support is available to businesses, except for the Research Council studentships and DTI's grant support contributes to the RTO's costs, but companies can sponsor research projects of relevance to their business if they are appropriate to the research strands of the RTO and the relevant university departments.

Further information is available from the contact in DTI's Knowledge Transfer Unit:

Paul Harris
Innovation & Business Development Directorate
Department of Trade and Industry
Room 346
151 Buckingham Palace Road
London SW1W 9SS
Tel: 020 7215 1074 Fax: 020 7215 1631;
E-mail: paul.harris@dti.gsi.gov.uk

A brochure is available outlining the Programme and futher information about any of the Partnerships can be obtained from:

TCD
http://www.tcd.co.uk/ptp/index.html

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/bmk/ptp

The eight PTPs are:

BHR GROUP LIMITED AND CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY
http://www.bhrgroup.co.uk/ptpproj.htm
or
Cranfield University
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/prospectus/html/cranbhr.htm
Remit: Process technologies.

BRITISH TEXTILES TECHNOLOGY GROUP AND UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
http://www.bttg.co.uk/NewsPages/news3.htm
or
The University of Leeds
http://www.leeds.ac.uk
Remit: Novel sensors, materials and surface coating, environmental technology.

CERAM RESEARCH AND KEELE UNIVERSITY
http://www.ceram.co.uk/ptp/index.htm
or
Keele University
http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/ch/chemhome.html
Remit: Processing, monitoring and controlling particulate materials as powders, suspensions and formed shapes - novel ceramics, improved refractory structures, fuel cells, catalysts - manfacturing improvement, technology transfer.

EA TECHNOLOGY AND UMIST
http://www.eatl.co.uk/ptp/ptphome.htm
or
UMIST
http://www.umist.ac.uk
Remit: Clean, energy-efficient processes, material processing and resource management.

NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY AND UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE
http://www.nel.uk/ABOUT/partners/
or
The University Of Strathclyde
http://www.strath.ac.uk/Departments/MechEng/pgstudy.htm
Remit: Underpinning technologies for the energy sector: flow measurement, fluid properties, heat transfer, renewable energy, structures and information technology.

SIRA AND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
http://www.sira.co.uk/ptp.htm
or
University College London
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/CAIS/Courses/List/ptp.html
Remit: Instrumentation and control, intelligent imaging systems for analysis, inspection, security and surveillance.

TWI AND UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
http://www.twi.co.uk/phd.html
or
University of Cambridge
http://www.msm.cam.ac.uk
Remit: Welding and joining technology for metals and non-metals, surface engineering, cutting, structual integrity, materials engineering, non-destructive testing.

WRC PLC AND IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE
http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/rschnet/htm/ptp.htm
or
Imperial College
http://www.gse.ic.ac.uk/courses/post_grad_teaching_1997.html
Remit: Environmental management, water treatment technology, wastewater process and control, plant and pipelines.