50+ Sample Research Agreement

What is a Research Agreement?

A research agreement is a document that has the terms agreed by parties who are going to do a research. All the persons who are going to make a research will enter this kind of agreement to define their roles and responsibilities in the research. The agreement details all the things that each professional will do. Works in the research are divided to all the persons who are going to handle it. It will be better to identify them in the agreement so that everyone will have the right responsibility to do what they are required to do for the research.

The research agreement is a contract that mentions the rights for intellectual property that will be involved in the research. It also has the market research request that can make the researchers to work easier in the study. Whether the agreement is a development agreement or a request agreement, it gives a clear description about the tasks that each person will do for the research. It also states the ownership of the research. A research agreement is not only common on sponsored research but to every research that will be done by many people.

Some examples of a research agreement are collaborative research agreement, clinical trial research agreement, research services agreement, research confidentiality agreement, research data use agreement, sponsored research agreement, and student research agreement. Before making an agreement, you must dive deep to the types of research agreements so that you can be definite with your agreement. It will be best to know their variation so that you can make the best agreement for your research.

You can refer to a sample contract so that you can be guided how to write an agreement. You can search on the internet for many templates that can help you to create a better contract. Do not forget to complete all its components. Be sure that it will not be lacking so that when it is time for all of you to do the research, you will all know what to do. The contract can guide you to implement your roles in the studies. Your responsibilities will become easier for you to remember. Through the contract, you can have a help that can make you to do things better.

Types of Research Agreement

A research contract agreement has many types. It will be good for you to know the types of research agreements so that you can create a better contract. To know the distinction between each agreement, read the following types of research agreements that we have prepared for you:

Allocation of Rights: This agreement is non-monetary. It is established between parties because of intellectual property rights. The rights for IP will be negotiated with the funding agreement. Terms and conditions will be discussed. When an award should be made, an AOR (Allocation of Rights) is needed. It grants the use of IP to each party. The rights is non-exclusive. There is no need for a compensation. It gives an option to have an exclusive license that will be given through a separate agreement. If you are going to create a proposal, a letter of commitment should be given to your company. It will identify and protect the Background IP. You will also establish the Foreground IP. All the inventions that will be jointly made will be jointly owned.Collaborative Research Agreement: A CRA (Collaborative Research Agreement) is an agreement that has been made by a university and organizations who will coordinate to make a research program. It states all the actions that they have to undertake. It identifies all their obligations with their collaboration in the research. The collaborative research agreement includes the scope of work, schedules, deliverables, intellectual property, confidential information, transfer of materials, compliance with rules and regulations, and terms on termination. The negotiation of CRA can be lengthy, depending on the expectation of each party.Consortium Agreement: A consortium agreement is an agreement that has multiple sponsors. It is commonly enabled by non-federal organizations who agree to support a project. Though, it does not mean that having many sponsors will make a program converted to a consortium. It is the same with the Sponsored Research Agreement (SRA). The sponsor will share the obligations and benefits. The terms that are included in this agreement are the descriptions of the project, cost of membership, the roles of members, the publication of the consortium, intellectual property, compliance with rules and regulations, and the termination of membership.Data Use Agreement: A DUA ( Data Use Agreement) is an agreement that is not funded. Both parties will exchange data. The data is always restricted and confidential. The agreement protects the confidentiality of data. Though, it permits publication of data using university policies and federal requirements. DUAs have great similarity to confidentiality agreements. It prevents disclosure of data. Sometimes, NDA is used before making a DUA. A principal investigator is involved in expediting the process of DUA.Interagency Cooperation Contract: An ICC (Interagency Cooperation Contract) is a common contract in the State of Texas. It is an agreement between agencies about their goods and services. It involves a university and an institution. The contract specifies the amount of service, the calculated fixed cost, and the maximum cost. The contract is usually made through sponsored projects.Material Transfer Agreement: The MTA (Material Transfer Agreement) is common in biological research that has been made by non-profit or private institution. It takes care of the acquisition of research materials. The materials are essential components that can be gotten from a sole source or a particular industry. The materials are viewed as propriety resources. Researchers may assert ownership of inventions from these materials. They will also have the chance to restrict unfavorable results. Universities ascertain that their terms of MTA do not conflict with the university policies. There different views and the accommodated negotiation is time-consuming. The negotiation includes publication, use of outcomes, and ownership of technology. The university gets a good proportion of funds from the federal government through this contract.Memorandum of Understanding: A MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) is an agreement between parties who wants to have partnership in research. It clears the type of relationship that can be created. It identify the objectives and responsibilities of each party. It is a binding document but it does not talk about compensation, confidentiality, and intellectual property. It is also called a “gentlemen’s agreement”. It is common in institutions of a more advanced education. It is used in grant proposals or in getting a grant award. If you fail in MOU, you will not get a penalty.Non-Disclosure Agreement: An NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) is an agreement between parties where the confidential materials are restricted to be disclosed. Through this agreement, all parties must not disclose any confidential information. The NDA preserves all types of non-public information. NDAs are “mutual’, which means that both parties agreed to share information and should not disclose any of this information. Intellectual property rights may be forfeited if they are disclosed.Service Agreement: The service agreement is used for the sale of goods to an external party. This includes activities like consulting, testing, analysis, and others. The work in this agreement is the same with sponsored research projects. The only difference is the conclusion. The people involved in this research may not be able to handle work for external parties. Rates in service agreement are established.Sponsored Research Agreement: A Sponsored Research Agreement (SRA) is made when an external party gives funding for the research. The party gives funds for an exchange of deliverables. Negotiations will be made by sponsors. The project will not start unless a research proposal is given. Through the proposal, the external party will know whether to give funds for the project or not. A funding agreement will also be negotiated and authorized. The terms of SRA should comply with the university policies or federal requirements.Subaward Agreement: This agreement is done with a 3rd party organization who will fund the research. Subawards are given to ascertain the terms. The subrecipient will carry out the scope of work that is proposed for the agreement. Before including a subaward, you must ask if the 3rd party can give the goods and services normally through their operation. Are the good similar with other purchasers? Does the 3rd party compete with other goods and services? Are the goods and services center of the purpose of the research? Does the 3rd party use standard procedures? You must answer these prime questions first so that you can create the best subaward agreement.Teaming Agreement: A teaming agreement is a binding agreement that is done by organizations who have agreed to have a common research that is a response to an RFP (Request for Proposal). This is usually done by federal government agencies. The leader of the organization is the one who drafts the teaming agreement. The agreement specifies the objectives of the team, the proposal, and the deliverables.

How to Write a Research Agreement

Do you need a research agreement template? Are you about to create a research agreement? Well, maybe you need some steps that you can follow. We can provide them for you. Read and consider the following:

1. Make an Abstract

The first part of the agreement is the abstract where you will relay all your objectives. Give a scope of objectives that will explain all the goals that each one of you should achieve. Since the agreement is the details about your responsibilities, you must know the goals that you should be responsible of. State the scope of work that you have to do. Each of you should know your responsibilities so that it will be easier for all to implement the research.

2. Give an Introduction

You should make an introduction in the agreement. You must state the name of all the parties that are involved in the agreement. Include their address and contact information. Then you should be clear about stating the research. Make an introduction about the details of the research. Be clear about the scope of the research.

3. Parts of the Agreement

Now, you can start drafting the agreement. To be sure that you can make a complete agreement, you must check templates that contain the components of a research agreement. Use them as a pattern in drafting your agreement. Create an outline having all the components. Be clear in stating the details in each component.

4. Provide Provisions

You must include provisions in the agreement. You must include clauses for termination or dispute resolution. These are important so that you will know what to do if ever unexpected things happen. You will have provisions that you can refer to. It will avoid any dispute that can happen to all involved parties.

5. Set a Budget

You must set a budget for the research. This is the amount of funds that you will request from the sponsors. Calculate a good budget that can support the research. Be sure that it is enough to finish the research. Make a budget plan that can help you to create a budget better.

6. List the Materials

Then, you have to list all the materials needed. This will ensure that you will be able to provide all the materials that are needed in the research. Do not forget a single material so that you will not need anything. In choosing materials, be sure to use high-quality materials.

FAQs

What is the benefit of a research agreement?

The benefit of a research agreement is that all the researchers can work better. Their roles must be clearly defined that is why they can give all their best to the study.

Is a research agreement necessary?

Yes, it is necessary. Through the research agreement, the researchers will know their part for the project and they can work better.

Making a research is a difficult task. The research agreement enables all parties to define their responsibilities for the research better. This will enable them to achieve their goals for the research. Well, do you need a template for a research agreement? This post has 50+ SAMPLE Research Agreement in PDF | MS Word. You can use any of these templates if you like. Download now!