The Framework helps business and universities work together on projects in five key categories. These categories are called ‘commercialisation pathways’.
On this page:
Which commercialisation pathway are you on?
A good starting point when using the Framework is to assess which commercialisation pathway you are on and what you are trying to achieve with your project partner.
Commercialisation Pathways
1. Identifying and protecting IP
Being able to identify and protect IP is a key factor in collaborations between industry and universities. The Framework provides agreements to help you protect your confidential information in discussions with another party, and to provide, or access, proprietary materials for your project.
2. Developing IP through collaboration
Collaborative research between universities and industry is important in innovation. The Framework provides agreements for research projects where the parties are working together to develop new technologies or solve research problems.
3. Providing services and equipment
Universities have unique technical expertise and equipment that industry partners may want to access for their own research needs. The Framework provides agreements for businesses that want to commission a technical service or access equipment from a university.
4. Licensing IP
A business may want the right to use intellectual property (IP) developed by a university. The Framework has agreements that allow a company to use IP which is owned by a university for internal research or commercial use.
5. Buying and selling IP
A business may want to buy intellectual property (IP) developed by a university. The Framework has agreements to purchase IP from a university for internal or commercial use.
Remember: The journey of commercialising intellectual property (IP) will be unique to each opportunity, and projects may require agreements from multiple categories. Opportunities can develop along their own pathway.
Common scenarios where you would use the IP Framework
Need some help identifying your commercialisation pathway?
Some common examples and scenarios where you can use the Framework include:
A company approaches a university to access expertise to help the company test a product and provide a technical report, with the work specified by the company
- Commercialisation Pathway: Providing services and equipment
- Agreement template(s):
- Confidentiality Agreement – if confidential information needs to be disclosed as part of the initial discussions to plan the work and agree a work schedule and price before entering a formal services agreement
- Technical Services Agreement
A university and a company want to do some investigative research, with both parties contributing to the plan or the work
- Commercialisation Pathway: Developing IP through collaboration
- Agreement template(s):
- Confidentiality Agreement – if confidential information needs to be disclosed as part of the initial discussions to plan the proposed project
- Accelerated Research Agreement or Standard Research Agreement – the guidance will help you decide
A company wishes to use intellectual property (IP) from a university to develop into a new product or service
- Commercialisation Pathways: Licensing IP, Selling IP
- Agreement template(s):
- Confidentiality Agreement – if confidential information needs to be disclosed as part of the negotiations
- Non-exclusive or Exclusive licence Agreement, or Assignment Agreement – the guidance will help you decide
Practical Guide
To find out more about the categories and when (or when not to) use each agreement, go the section 4 of the Practical Guide (page 18 in the pdf version).