Collaborative Research

Collaborative Research Agreements provide for the conduct of directed, collaborative, or joint research of mutual interest to the researcher and the company with shared rights and access to the results. There is an expectation that there may be new or incremental intellectual property developed within the project.

Characteristics

Sponsor and UBC jointly define the research project
Results and developments are expected
Ownership of inventions and other intellectual property arising from the project belong to:
(i) Sponsor if solely developed by the Sponsor (“Sponsor IP”)
(ii) UBC if solely developed by UBC (“UBC IP”); and
(iii) UBC and Sponsor if jointly developed by UBC and the Sponsor (“Joint IP”)

Rights of the sponsor to use and/or own UBC IP and Joint IP are determined in the Agreement, as directed by the Principal Investigator.

Alternatives include

(a) Sponsor obtains a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the IP.
(b) Sponsor is granted an option to negotiate a royalty-bearing license for UBC’s rights to the IP.
(c) Sponsor is assigned the rights to the IP if all direct and indirect costs of research are paid by the sponsor, and salaries for researchers are charged at industry rates.

Publication may be temporarily delayed (within clearly defined limits) to protect commercial interests
UBC will protect confidential information clearly defined and provided by the Sponsor

Parties to the Agreement: UBC and Sponsor (may include UBC-Affiliated Hospitals)

University Requirements

Students may participate in collaborative research projects to enhance their academic experience.
These arrangements must not delay or interfere with the academic studies or progression.
Conduct of research will be in accordance with the university research policies regarding the use of human subjects, animals, radioactive materials and biohazards

Some collaborative research arrangements may give rise to Conflict-of-Commitment or Conflict-of-Interest situations which require approval and management prior to the commencement of the consulting project

Sample template agreements:

With option to license intellectual property
With assignment of intellectual property to sponsor
With non-exclusive license to intellectual property