This week, Beaconsfield MP Dominic Grieve writes exclusively to readers:

Knowledge is power, it is often said. Our businesses could benefit by applying to take part in the ongoing Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme, where funding is available to them to bring in new knowledge by working with a university or research organisation, along with a graduate.

There is up to £40 million of funding for businesses and the deadline for the next programme is 19 September.

Any size of business or not-for-profit organisation may apply. If any applicants miss the date for one round, the application will be carried forward to the next funding round.

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership can cover any technology or industry area. It lasts one to three years. The funding can help businesses to work on a specific innovation, recruiting a graduate to work on the plan.

Businesses which already have links with academic partners can choose to work with them. Alternatively, they can get in touch with the network of Knowledge Transfer Advisers (search on www.gov.uk for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships).

The local area covers Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and London North/Central.

The academic or research organisation partner helps to recruit a suitable graduate, who is employed by the academic institution but who will work at the company. There are differing levels of funding according to the size of the business.

Early in July, Science Minister, Sam Gyimah MP, said that the businesses of the future will be based on science, research and technology.

He was speaking at the Oxford Science Park, at one of the hubs of the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford corridor.

Bucks as a whole can benefit from the planned innovation, to help businesses prosper and thrive.

We have a lot of talented people in the local workforce who can develop their skills to put their ideas into commercial practice and help the economy grow.