For Faculty: Frequently Asked Questions

Getting started

Define your research strengths and unique value proposition that may be of interest to potential industry partners. Attending one of our Competitive Intelligence workshops will help you to understand how to quickly and efficiently begin to identify potential partners. Start with a quick conversation with the Industry Research Partnerships (IRP) team about your research strengths, what kind of industry partners you think would be a good fit, and what 鈥渟uccess鈥 looks like (sponsored project, materials/data access, student projects, licensing, etc).

Industry meetings are valuable, but they鈥檙e different from academic collaborations: goals, timelines, confidentiality, and IP expectations often come up fast. Industry culture is also vastly different from that of academia, and it鈥檚 critical to listen to the company鈥檚 challenges and understand their needs and pain points before 鈥減itching鈥 your research.听听

Before the meeting, clarify:听

  • The purpose of the discussion
  • What you can share publicly
  • What you need from them (data/materials/funding)
  • What you want to avoid committing to verbally

A common next step is an NDA/CDA if confidential info will be exchanged.听

Connect with the IRP team to understand if any agreements or developing partnership conversations might already be in place with the company.听听

Think of it as a coordinated team:

  • helps you to build broader industry engagement across many levels including philanthropic and foundations听
  • The negotiates and signs research-related agreements on behalf of 麻豆免费版下载Boulder
  • supports invention disclosure, IP protection, licensing, and startup pathways
  • The Project Management Office serves as the strategic bridge between research teams and sponsored projects, aligning efforts with institutional goals听听

鈥淲hat can I sign?鈥 and confidentiality

No. Individual faculty/staff generally do not have authority to sign agreements that bind 麻豆免费版下载Boulder unless they have a formal written delegation of signature authority. Signing without authority can put publication/IP rights at risk and may expose you personally. Learn more about Signature Authority.

Use an NDA/CDA when confidential/proprietary information will be exchanged while exploring a potential collaboration. 麻豆免费版下载Boulder NDAs can be one-way or two-way. OCG Contract Officers are the authorized representatives for negotiating and executing NDAs; requests can be initiated through OCG鈥檚 Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) request process. Learn more about NDAs.听

It depends on complexity and the other party鈥檚 template. NDA negotiation can take a number of weeks depending on review and negotiation, so it鈥檚 smart to start early. 麻豆免费版下载Boulder offers a partially executed NDA that you can send to a prospective company partner to fast-path the process.听听

Choosing the right collaboration pathway

The most common pathways include:

  • Sponsored research (company funds research in your lab or department; may be collaborative)
  • Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) (sharing physical research materials)
  • Data Transfer and Use Agreements (DTUA/DUA) (sending/receiving datasets with defined handling terms)
  • Service / fee-for-service agreements (testing, measurement, use of specialized equipment鈥攐ften deliverable-based)

A sponsored research agreement is a contract where a company provides funding for a defined research project for a defined period鈥攐ften with expectations around reports, deliverables and (sometimes) rights to negotiate for IP that may result. Learn more about sponsored research at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder.听听

A common rule of thumb across universities: if the company is funding a specific scope of work and expects deliverables and/or IP-related rights, it鈥檚 typically sponsored research; if funding is provided without rights in return, it may be treated as a gift (with the right campus office involved). Learn more about award management of gifts.听

Publication, openness and restricted research

麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥檚 default posture is openness: the campus generally does not accept publication restrictions on sponsored projects absent compelling reasons. If an agreement imposes restrictions on publication or participation, it may be considered restricted research and requires additional review/approvals. Our teams will help you navigate publication considerations with a prospective company partner to ensure alignment, as some companies may require publication restrictions to protect their intellectual property. Learn more about publication restrictions.听

Agreements, who signs and what OCG needs

At 麻豆免费版下载Boulder, the Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG) holds delegated contracting authority for research sponsored contracts鈥攐nly your OCG Contract Officer can sign. Even if there are no funds, if it governs research performance, it still must be reviewed and signed by OCG. Learn more about Sponsored Research Contracting.听

All new proposals require a Proposal Submission Request (PSR) form.

OCG flags typical delay drivers as: conflict of interest, IRB/IACUC, export controls, IP issues, indemnification and other terms and conditions negotiation. Translation: looping in the right offices early prevents the 鈥渨hy is this stuck?鈥 spiral. Learn more about Sponsored Research Contracting.听

Aligning with your industry partner鈥攊n advance鈥攐n a non-binding term sheet outlining each party鈥檚 initial positions on items like confidentiality, intellectual property, publication, and governing law can greatly increase negotiation cycles and identify any 鈥榮how stoppers鈥 in advance of the negotiation.听听

Master agreements, repeat partners and speed

A Master Research Agreement is used when a sponsor expects to collaborate on multiple projects with 麻豆免费版下载Boulder. The master sets the overarching terms; then each new project runs under a Task Order (also may be referred to as Statements of Work or SOW鈥檚) that contains project-specific items (approach, budget, PI/staffing, milestones/deliverables, and background IP). This can significantly speed subsequent projects. Learn more about Master Agreements.

Materials, data and 鈥渃an they just send it?鈥

If materials or datasets are involved, you typically need the right agreement in place:

  • MTA for tangible materials (inbound/outbound)
  • DTUA/DUA for datasets (defines access, storage, disposal and rights)听
    These protect you and 麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥攁nd prevent accidental restrictions on how you can use or publish what you receive.听

Learn more about NDA, MTA, and DTUA/DUA Request Forms.

Students, deliverables and expectations

Often yes鈥攁nd it can be a big benefit (training + talent pipelines). The watch-outs are publication restrictions, export controls, and any terms that could delay graduation or limit participation. 麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥檚 restricted research process explicitly requires mitigation planning to protect students and trainees when restrictions are proposed. Learn more about publication restrictions.听