A research collaboration agreement (RCA) is a legal document that outlines the terms and conditions for collaboration between two or more parties working together on a research project. It’s a crucial document that helps ensure that all parties are on the same page, and that the project is completed successfully.

If you’re involved in a research collaboration, it’s essential to have an RCA in place. In this article, we’ll provide you with a sample research collaboration agreement that can serve as a starting point for your own document.

Before we dive into the sample RCA, let’s go over some of the key things that should be included in the agreement:

1. Purpose of the collaboration: This section should outline the objectives of the research collaboration and the expected outcome of the project.

2. Responsibilities of the parties: Each party’s responsibilities during the collaboration should be clearly defined in this section.

3. Intellectual property rights: This section should detail how the parties will handle intellectual property created during the collaboration, including who owns the IP, who has the right to use it, and how any revenue generated from the IP will be shared.

4. Confidentiality: Parties involved in the collaboration will likely be exchanging sensitive information, so this section should outline how information will be kept confidential.

5. Dispute resolution: In the event of a dispute between the parties, this section should outline how it will be resolved.

Now, let’s take a look at a sample research collaboration agreement:

Research Collaboration Agreement

This research collaboration agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of [date] (the “Effective Date”) by and between [Party A], with a mailing address of [address], and [Party B], with a mailing address of [address].

Purpose of Collaboration

The parties hereby agree to collaborate on a research project titled [project title] (the “Project”) with the objective of [objective].

Responsibilities of the Parties

[Party A] shall be responsible for [responsibilities].

[Party B] shall be responsible for [responsibilities].

Intellectual Property Rights

Any intellectual property created during the collaboration shall be owned by the party that created it. However, the parties hereby grant each other a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use any intellectual property created during the collaboration for the purpose of the Project. Any revenue generated from the intellectual property shall be shared [insert revenue sharing agreement].

Confidentiality

The parties hereby agree to keep all information exchanged during the collaboration confidential. Any information that is not generally known to the public shall be considered confidential.

Dispute Resolution

Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved by [insert dispute resolution method, such as mediation or arbitration].

Term and Termination

This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until [project completion date]. Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time upon written notice to the other party.

Miscellaneous

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings, whether oral or written. This Agreement may not be amended except in writing signed by both parties.

In conclusion, a research collaboration agreement is a crucial document for any research project involving multiple parties. The sample RCA provided above can help serve as a starting point for drafting your own agreement, but remember to tailor it to your specific project and consult legal professionals when necessary. With an RCA in place, you can ensure that all parties are agreement on how to collaborate, helping to set you up for success.