Legal support for research collaborations
The research contract group in the Knowledge Transfer and Corporate Relations department has reorganised itself and geared its services even more closely to the needs of researchers.
Researchers regularly work together with third parties. Whether academic collaborations or innovation partnerships with industry, public institutions or non-profit organisations: The rights and obligations of the partners must be contractually regulated. The technical jargon can be a real challenge here. In addition, some researchers are faced with the anxious question of whether they have really considered all relevant aspects and eventualities.
This is where the research contract group comes in. It supports ETH Zurich researchers in drawing up and negotiating contracts in connection with research projects with third parties. The group's advisors ensure that contracts comply with ETH guidelines and that the risks for ETH Zurich and its researchers are minimised. They also provide support in obtaining approvals and signatures from the responsible Vice-President, if this is necessary due to the contract amount, for example.
Let yourself be advised
The Research Contract Group offers legal support in drafting and negotiating contracts, such as research contracts, scientific service contracts, non-disclosure agreements (NDA), material transfer agreements (MTA), Innosuisse contracts, data supply and use agreements, contracts within the framework of specific special programmes (e.g. ESA), which are concluded e.g. with industrial partners / NGOs, other research institutions / universities, hospitals and public / governmental bodies. In addition, the research contract group provides support in IP-specific legal issues in connection with research contracts.
The advisors of the research contract group support around 1200 contract negotiations every year and the number is constantly increasing. Originally part of ETH transfer, the team has been part of the Partnerships for Innovation team in the Vice President's Office for Knowledge Transfer and Corporate Relations since October 2023, which also includes Industry Relations and ETH Hangar (Innovation Park Zurich).
As part of the organisational adjustment, the research contract group has been restructured and its services have been aligned even more closely to the needs of researchers. The advisors are now responsible for specific subject areas instead of individual departments, as was previously the case. This means that the thematic requirements of the departments can be addressed more efficiently.
Organisation
The contract group is now organised according to the following specialist areas:
- Human Medicine
- Life Sciences
- Earth, Food & Environmental Materials & Processes
- Materials & processes
- Engineering & Applied Physics
- Computational Sciences
- Architecture & Civil Engineering
- Management & Social Sciences
- Singapore ETH-Centre SEC
- International Programmes
- Public partners in Switzerland
"By dividing ourselves up according to specialist areas, we can utilise our specific knowledge in an even more targeted manner and thus speed up the preparation, review and negotiation processes," explains Andreas Kl?ti, Head of the Research Contract Group. What remains the same: As before, each and every researcher will have a dedicated contact person at the contract group.
The group has also revised its information materials (available online) so that they are easy to understand and optimise collaboration between ETH Zurich researchers and their partners. A digital, standardised questionnaire, which researchers can use to submit their enquiries, is intended to further facilitate collaboration. This will be available from July.
Further information
Sign research contracts with industry and other third partiesRoadshow of the research contract group
In order to promote dialogue with researchers and offer topic-specific advice, the research contract group will be offering information events for the respective subject areas in the coming months. The first event for researchers from the field of management and social sciences took place on 15 May 2024.
The next event is aimed at researchers from Earth, Food & Environment and is planned for 25 June 2024 from 16:30 to 18:00 (for external page registrations).
The events for the other subject areas will be announced on the website.
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