In the know

The BBC series Life on Mars — which has just finished its first series — was an entertaining reminder of how different things were in the 1970s. Plenty of things that seemed like a good idea three decades ago haven't really stood the test of time.

Some, however, were very much ahead of their time, and I'd like to offer the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) programme as an example of 1970s foresight at its best. Amid the jokes about bad fashions and tasteless home furnishings, it's easy to forget what a tough period the 1970s were for the UK economy — not least its engineering and manufacturing sectors.

KTP was set up in 1976 in a bid to help them survive and thrive. Thirty years on, when the challenges are different but no less acute, KTP is actually more relevant than ever. Its mission is to 'strengthen the competitiveness, wealth creation and economic performance of the UK by the enhancement of knowledge and skills, and the stimulation of innovation through collaborative projects between business and the knowledge base'.