Knowledge Transfer Partnership project with FinTech company rated ‘Outstanding’

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project between Henley Business School’s ICMA Centre and FinTech company Dynamic Planner and has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Innovate UK.

A KTP is a three-way partnership between an academic institution, a business and a suitably qualified graduate (a so-called “KTP Associate”) which allows companies to access research and apply it in a commercial environment.

The two-year project with Dynamic Planner set out to enhance the company’s position as a pioneer of novel techniques to most suitably match investors with appropriate financial products. The project combined quantitative analysis of the company’s large, complex databases with psychological insights of actual investor behaviour to create an understanding of why investors make specific decisions at specific times and develop new product lines.

Lead Academic Professor Chris Brooks said: “I am really delighted that Innovate UK have awarded our KTP with an ‘Outstanding’ classification. The scheme provided us, together with the company, an opportunity to develop new products that will support the decision-making of hundreds of thousands of retail investors. For me personally, working on the project was a fantastic experience throughout.”

The KTP Associate, Dr Louis Williams, studied at Reading for a PhD in Psychology and is now Head of Psychology & Behavioural Insights at Dynamic Planner. Against stiff competition, he was awarded in 2021 the Future Leader Award at the national KTP Awards and was bestowed an Honorary Visiting Fellowship at Henley Business School.

Research Dean Professor Adrian Bell said: “KTPs are a great way to collaborate with business and ensure that Henley’s world-leading research has a real-world impact. With support from professional colleagues in the KTC, the current success rate for KTPs – which count towards research income – of over 95% is to be commended and I would heartily encourage colleagues to get involved.”

Businesses who are interested in working with the University and accessing our research can do so through the Knowledge Transfer Centre (KTC). The KTC provides tailored support to enable partners to develop collaborations, secure funding, and increase competitiveness. More information on collaborating with industry can be found in the following blog: https://research.reading.ac.uk/research-blog/collaborating-with-industry-a-knowledge-transfer-partnership-could-be-the-answer/