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Research Collaboration Agreement Generator

Establish the framework for your research collaboration. Define project scope, resource allocation, data sharing, intellectual property, and publication rights.

What is a Research Collaboration Agreement?

A Research Collaboration Agreement is a contract between two or more parties (academic institutions, companies, researchers, etc.) that outlines the terms and conditions for jointly conducting research activities. This agreement establishes expectations regarding project scope, resource contributions, funding arrangements, intellectual property rights, data sharing protocols, confidentiality provisions, and publication rights for research activities conducted collaboratively.

Key Sections Typically Included:

  • Parties Identification
  • Research Project Description
  • Project Timeline and Milestones
  • Research Governance Structure
  • Roles and Responsibilities
  • Resource Commitments
  • Funding Arrangements
  • Intellectual Property Rights
  • Data Ownership and Access
  • Confidentiality Provisions
  • Publication Protocols
  • Background IP Usage
  • Foreground IP Allocation
  • Technology Transfer Terms
  • Liability and Indemnification
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Term and Termination

Why Use Our Generator?

Our Research Collaboration Agreement generator helps research organizations and partners create a comprehensive document that clearly establishes the framework for successful collaboration. By defining intellectual property ownership, publication protocols, and resource commitments upfront, all parties can focus on advancing research goals while protecting their respective interests and contributions.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: How should intellectual property rights be structured?

    • A: The agreement should distinguish between background IP (pre-existing) and foreground IP (newly created), establish ownership or licensing rights for jointly developed IP, and define procedures for patent filing and prosecution. It should address commercialization rights for research outputs, establish revenue sharing arrangements from commercialized IP, and outline how improvements to background IP will be handled. The agreement should also address open source or open access commitments where applicable, specify rights to research tools and methodologies, and outline how IP rights are affected if a party withdraws from the collaboration. The agreement should also establish notification requirements for new inventions, specify territorial limitations on IP rights, and outline policies for technology transfer to third parties.

  • Q: What provisions should govern publication and dissemination of research?

    • A: The agreement should establish review periods for proposed publications to protect confidential information and patentable discoveries, outline authorship determination and credit attribution policies, and specify acknowledgment requirements for funding sources and contributors. It should address whether any party has veto rights over specific disclosures, establish procedures for conference presentations and academic talks, and outline open access and repository policies. The agreement should also specify embargo periods for commercially sensitive findings, establish procedures for press releases and media communications, and outline how publication rights continue after the collaboration ends. It should address citation requirements for datasets and resources, establish procedures for handling publication disputes, and outline how negative results will be published.

  • Q: How should data sharing and management be addressed?

    • A: The agreement should establish ownership rights for research data and materials generated, outline data format, storage, backup, and security requirements, and specify access controls and sharing protocols during and after the project. It should address long-term preservation and archiving responsibilities, establish procedures for transferring materials between collaborators, and outline requirements for documenting methodologies and maintaining data integrity. The agreement should also specify quality control and validation standards for data, establish how sensitive or personally identifiable information will be protected, and outline data citation and attribution requirements. It should address compliance with relevant data protection regulations, establish procedures for requesting access to stored data, and outline how data embargo periods will be implemented.