Demand from businesses wanting to get new innovation-led projects off the ground has almost doubled since last year, according to data collected by the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) programme.

The KTP programme received nearly twice the number of applications from businesses in the first part of this financial year compared with 2009/10.

Funded by the Technology Strategy Board, KTP supports business innovation by facilitating collaborative partnerships with further and higher education institutions.

"This news is extremely encouraging and demonstrates a clear desire from businesses to innovate and grow in the post-recession era," said Dr Debbie Buckley-Golder of KTP.