Financial Contribution from the Commercial 'Partner'

The assumption underpinning the five model Research Collaboration Agreements is that the commercial ‘partner’ will seek greater or further rights to exploit the results in situations where it has made a greater contribution, be it financial or other or both, to the collaborative project.

Where the commercial 'partner' needs full ownership of the results for commercial reasons, the university may agree to this, but the cost to the commercial ‘partner’ will be greater than where the results are of less immediate commercial importance or interest to the sponsor.

For example, where the project is more speculative in nature, or has implications for future research at the university, the financial contribution of the commercial ‘partner’ will be lower and the rights to use and exploit the IP granted by the university will be more limited.