Knowledge Transfer Partnership wins ‘outstanding’ award 

A recently completed Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme between the University of Wolverhampton and West Midlands based company, Johnson Test Papers Limited (JTP), has successfully been awarded the highest grade of "outstanding" by the KTP Grading Panel for its achievement in meeting KTP's objectives. 

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) aim to help businesses improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills within the UK knowledge base. This KTP project was funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through Innovate UK.

The two-year programme fully achieved its goal to design and manufacture a suite of new pH indicator products and as a result the company has been able to refresh their entire pH indicator product range, going from a bleeding paper to a 100% non-bleed paper.  

Johnson Test Papers has been manufacturing easy to use rapid tests since 1938 with its Headquarters based in Oldbury, at the heart of the West Midlands.  

The products developed by this KTP represented a significant increase in technology for Johnson Test Papers and its directors used the achievement as a platform to implement several changes, including the decision to change the name of the company.  

In April 2024, Johnson Test Papers Ltd officially became known as Johnson Analytica Ltd. The new company name was launched at the Analytica exhibition in Munich in March, with the products developed during the KTP as its flagship announcement along with a new website. 

The name change also set in motion a number of other new business ventures for the company, including the manufacture of British/EU/US Pharmacopoeia standards as well as beginning the process for having its laboratory United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited, with the aim to ultimately provide analytical testing services. 

This is the company’s third successful KTP with the University. Emma Pearson, Knowledge Transfer Manager at the University, said: “To be awarded the highest grade by an independent KTP assessor panel is huge achievement as it shows the programme not only achieved all the required outcomes but also demonstrated that it exceeded the original objectives.” 

Dr Greg Mann, Research and Development Manager at Johnson Analytica Ltd, said: “This was not our first KTP, however it has been the most satisfying. The technology that has been developed is the culmination of a number of years of challenging work and represents one of the best achievements Johnson Analytica has made. Everyone involved should be immensely proud.” 

The associate who led the KTP programme, Dr Nik Kondratyev, has been offered a full-time role at the company as a Research and Development Chemist where he will continue his innovative research. 

Dr Leigh Jones, Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry in the University’s School of Life Sciences, said: “The KTP through, made possible through Innovate UK funding, has effectively allowed two institutions to come together to carry out a ground-breaking project that if successful would change the landscape for both institutes forever. And we are delighted that it worked so well.” 

WLV Business Link was recently set up by the University of Wolverhampton’s Research and Enterprise Directorate (RED) to support entrepreneurship, foster collaboration and drive economic growth. This initiative aims to support organisations in connecting with each other to access resources and expertise.