The ideal time to disclose an invention to InnovationAccess is before it has been published or publicly presented. Contact us or fill out the invention report to get started.
A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) is a contract between the university and one or more outside entities, e.g., another university, a company, or a non-profit organization, to facilitate and govern the transfer of tangible proprietary research materials.
Learn about Intellectual Property via TIPS (Tactical Intellectual Property Strategy).
Learn about the difference between copyrights, patents and trademarks.
The following Guide to Building Industry-University Collaborations is designed to help researchers and faculty build successful industry-university collaborations, within the framework of university policies and guidelines, including those pertaining to limitations on time spent consulting, compensation plans, intellectual property (IP) and professional liability insurance, and the use of university resources.
For further assistance in developing industry-university collaborations, please contact the Foundation and Corporate Engagement at: fce@ucdavis.edu.
The University of California has a long history of cooperation with industry in the support of research that is consistent with the university’s mission of teaching, research and public service. Engagement with industry is a component of the academic enterprise that enables researchers and faculty to maintain contact with research directions and priorities in the private sector and contribute to their professional development. UC Davis encourages research collaborations and engagement with industry that contribute the overall university teaching and public service mission.
Transferring Tangible Proprietary Materials and Information
A Material/Data Transfer Agreement (MTA/DTA) is an agreement between UC Davis and one or more outside entities, (e.g., another university, a company, or a non-profit organization), that covers the transfer of proprietary tangible research materials, and/or the transfer of any data and information. These agreements are important to preserve rights and set expectations between the parties involved.
A typical MTA/DTA will include terms that cover:
InnovationAccess has the authority to negotiate and execute these agreements for UC Davis. Most MTA/DTAs must also be signed by the Principle investigator (PI). In many cases, InnovationAccess must negotiate the terms of the agreement with the other institution to ensure the agreement is consistent with The Regents’ principles and policies, federal laws and guidelines and to preserve the PI’s rights as well.
For example, every MTA/DTA that UC Davis executes must be in harmony with some or all of the following:
When a UC Davis PI needs to send materials or data to another researcher outside UC Davis, InnovationAccess will draft and negotiate the agreement. When a PI needs to receive materials or data from an outside entity, InnovationAccess may need to work with the agreement provided by of outside entity that will provide the materials/data. Usually, these provided agreements take longer to negotiate to bring them into compliance with UC’s terms.
To request an MTA/DTA please log in to our Agreement Request Portal. If you don’t already have an account, you will need to create one. then you can request an agreement by completing the agreement request fields on the portal. Please be prepared to enter the name of the scientist you are working with and a legal contact person. Please also attach any relevant documentation.
You’ll be able to check the status of your agreement request right on the portal, and when the agreement has been finalized, copies of the executed agreement will be available on your account.
Although most MTAs/DTAs are completed within 60 days, it is important that you plan ahead as some MTAs need more extensive negotiations. UC is also signatory to the Uniform Biological Material Transfer Agreement (UBMTA) which enables UC Davis to transfer materials with numerous other universities and nonprofit organizations quickly by using a standard letter agreement.
If you have any questions or experience any issues with the Agreement Request Portal, please email mta@ucdavis.edu for assistance. When you submit a request, it will be assigned to analyst with whom you can communicate directly regarding any questions you may have.
If you have any questions or if you need additional information, please contact us.
Below are selected industry funding opportunities which include an assortment of competitive grants, private awards and in-kind opportunities.
In accordance with University of California policy, it is required that all research proposals for extramural support be reviewed by UC Davis Office of Research, Sponsored Programs before it can be formally submitted for consideration. Additionally, some proposal submissions may require direct interface and coordination through InnovationAccess when appropriate. Please note that all information shared as part of this process shall be considered non-confidential unless otherwise noted. Awards resulting from extramural funding programs will require internal coordination through UC Davis Office of Research.
Human and Animal Health Funding
Submission Deadline: August
Type of support: Two types of grants depending on the molecular target, the scientific data provided and the maturity of the proposal.
Overview: Bayer offers financial and scientific support to promote the exploration of therapeutic ideas for novel drug targets towards the development of innovative solutions in the areas of oncology, gynecology, heart and vascular diseases, specialty lung diseases, kidney diseases and hemostatic and acute organ disorders.
Deadline: Rolling submissions
Type of support: In-kind, access to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) research tools and data.
Overview: The Discovery Fast Track Challenge recognizes and rewards innovative concepts, discoveries and research by investigators at research institutions, colleges and universities. The Challenge is open to principal investigators affiliated with an institute, college or university located in a specified region. Winning investigators will collaborate with a team of our scientists to screen their target of interest to put their innovative research concept on an accelerated drug discovery path. GSK will provide state-of-the-art capabilities and scientific expertise. Promising results may lead to an opportunity for the investigator and institution to collaborate with us to create a novel medicine with the Discovery Partnerships for Academia (DPAc).
For further details: http://openinnovation.gsk.com/
Deadline: Rolling submissions
Type of support: In-kind, access to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) research tools and data.
Overview: GSK is looking for projects with specific and testable hypotheses with the potential to deliver therapeutic benefits to patients with an unmet medical need. Your proposal can address almost any disease area and be based on either a small molecule or biopharmaceutical (protein) therapeutic modality. Once we mutually agree to undertake a project, we will work together hand-in-hand throughout the process, from early screening to late lead optimization.
For further details: http://www.dpac.gsk.com/about.html
Food and Agriculture Funding
Submission Deadline: August
Type of support: Two types of grants depending on the molecular target, the scientific data provided and the maturity of the proposal.
Overview: Bayer offers financial and scientific support to promote the exploration of ideas for novel molecular targets towards the development of innovative new crop protection solutions for weed, pest and disease control. Bayer aims to translate innovation coming from research into modern crop protection products suitable for the future challenges of the global agricultural community.
Engineering and Technology Funding
Deadline: This is an invitational program only – Agilent does not accept nominations.
Type of support: Financial support and in-kind.
Overview: This invitational program promotes fundamental scientific advancements by contributing financial support, products and expertise to the research of influential thought leaders in the life sciences, diagnostics, and chemical analysis. If there is a specific project that is likely to be of great interest to Agilent, but you are unaware of the appropriate Agilent person to contact, then please send that specific proposal abstract to university_relations@agilent.com, we can then route it to the correct person for evaluation.
Deadline: January
Type of support: Financial support, unrestricted research award of $100K, distributed over 2 years to university in the professor’s name.
Overview: The Agilent Early Career Professor award goal is to promote and encourage excellent research enabling measurements of importance to Agilent Technologies and the world. To establish strong collaborative relationships between Agilent researchers and leading professors early in their career; building prominence of Agilent as a sponsor of university research. The award focus changes annually, and candidates must have completed their Ph.D. or M.D. within the last 10 years.
For further details: http://www.agilent.com/univ_relation/profaward/index.shtml
Deadline: June
Type of support: Financial support, up to $100,000 per year. This funding may be renewed for up to three years.
Overview: The SAMSUNG Global Research Outreach (GRO) Program is an important part of growing SAMSUNG’s (Samsung Electronics & related Samsung companies) academic research engagement and collaboration platforms. World-class university researchers have been annually invited since 2009 to propose novel research ideas and to work with our R&D teams to foster technological innovation. Selected GRO applicants will receive financial support for their proposed project, up to USD $100,000 per year. This funding may be renewed for up to three years, based on measured annual research outcomes and necessity for further research partnership determined by SAMSUNG. Joint research proposals from multiple universities are welcome and acceptable. The GRO Program represents an opportunity for SAMSUNG and universities to build a mutually beneficial research relationship and we look forward to your participation.
For further details: http://www.sait.samsung.co.kr/saithome/Page.do?method=main&pagePath=01_about/&pageName=gro_overview
UC Davis encourages interactions and research support from commercial entities which support the missions of research, teaching and public service.
Company funding for specific projects can provide substantial benefits to both the researcher and the company. It enables the researcher to receive additional funding for support of laboratory personnel and other costs, collaborate with company scientists in the development of a scope of work for the research and develop long term relationships with companies whose commercial interests are complementary to the researcher’s interests. Such relationships also have the added benefit of providing the possibility of future employment for UC Davis graduate students or post docs who may be interested in becoming company employees after they have completed their formal education at the university.
Intellectual Property & License Agreement
Companies often fund research projects in the hope that new technology emerges. The research agreement affords the sponsor rights to prospective intellectual property made by university personnel during the sponsored research, i.e., preferential rights to negotiate a commercial license agreement. In a license agreement the company has a right to certain aspects of an invention including making, using, or selling. A license agreement is a legal contract with the university and is separate from the research agreement. A license agreement contains its own terms, which include a financial structure, and provides that the licensee meet certain diligence requirements toward the timely commercial development and marketing of resulting products for the public benefit. The university retains ownership of the sponsored technology in order to meet its fiduciary responsibility to the state and to ensure university researchers freedom to continue their research in their chosen fields. Within the Office of Research, Sponsored Programs negotiates research agreements and UC Davis InnovationAccess negotiates license agreements.
There are many types of agreements or contracts at UC Davis, including grants, industry research agreements, licensing agreements, service agreements, letters of agreement, memorandum of understanding, purchase orders, and letters of intent. The university enters into Master Agreements with entities which concurrently support numerous projects at UC Davis. The Master Agreement addresses the general terms and conditions that apply to all projects sponsored under it.
Types of Agreements
Authority to solicit, negotiate and execute agreements for research and business services at UC Davis on behalf of The Regents of the University of California is delegated to only a few authorized representatives on each campus. There are only certain offices on campus, such as Sponsored Programs, UC Davis InnovationAccess, and Purchasing & Business Contracts that have the authority to decide the appropriate agreement for the specific transaction that you are requesting. The type of activity you are proposing will determine the type of agreement. A representative from the appropriate campus office will negotiate the specific agreement with the appropriate company representative. University faculty and researchers do not negotiate agreements on behalf of The Regents of the University of California, nor do they have the authority to sign agreements.
There are many types of agreements or contracts at UC Davis, including grants, industry research agreements, licensing agreements, service agreements, letters of agreement, memorandum of understanding, purchase orders, and letters of intent. The university enters into Master Agreements with entities which concurrently support numerous projects at UC Davis. The Master Agreement addresses the general terms and conditions that apply to all projects sponsored under it.
The following are four types of agreements that are often involved in relationships between the university and industry: research agreements, service agreements, clinical trial agreements and confidentiality agreements.
Authority to solicit, negotiate and execute agreements for research and business services at UC Davis on behalf of The Regents of the University of California is delegated to only a few authorized representatives on each campus.
Policy Guiding Interactions
Each campus of the University of California operates under research and business administration and technology transfer policies formulated and distributed by the UC Office of the President on behalf of The Regents of the University of California; however, each campus maintains its own offices, such as Sponsored Programs and Contracting Services that negotiate and sign agreements. After initial discussions have taken place between industrial sponsors and the UC Davis scientific contact (university Principal Investigator or PI), the PI facilitating the partnership should contact her/his department business officer within her/his department or College and the Sponsored Programs office. The department business officer or sponsored programs officer will then direct the UC Davis PI to the appropriate office and contact on campus. This process includes submission of a scope of work or a research proposal and associated documents by the researcher/department to the appropriate office for review and processing. The appropriate office will contact the authorized representative of the industrial sponsor and negotiate the terms of a research contract between the two organizations.
Authority to solicit, negotiate and execute agreements for research and business services at UC Davis on behalf of The Regents of the University of California is delegated to only a few authorized representatives on each campus.
Discuss the level of funding needed for the project with the company representative. After receiving guidance from your department business office and the Sponsored Programs officer, provide a preliminary summary of the research costs, both direct and indirect, which you will need in order to perform the research plan developed between you and the company. The budget must include both direct and indirect costs. UC Davis’ federally negotiated rates are available with this determination depending on the type of activity. The final determination of this rate is made by the designated office that has the authority to negotiate and sign the final agreement.
Contact the appropriate office on campus to determine the type of agreement necessary to conduct the scope of work. There are only certain offices on campus, such as Sponsored Programs, InnovationAccess, and Contracting Services that have the authority to decide the appropriate agreement for the specific transaction that you are requesting. The designated office that has the authority to negotiate and sign the final agreement will determine the type of agreement. The researcher at UC Davis who is the PI on your agreement will facilitate the discussions between your company and the appropriate UC Davis office.
Additional Industry Resources
We promote and encourage UC Davis’ interaction with industry, and there exist many different portals to begin a collaboration based upon the company’s needs, expectations and desired outcomes. Faculty members and professional researchers take the lead in the programmatic development of industry-university collaborations that build upon our research capacity. Each industry-sponsored research project is led by faculty researcher called a university Principal Investigator (PI) who guides the research, shapes the resulting technology, and is responsible for the scientific coordination with the sponsoring company. The PI and department chair are also responsible for ensuring that the project and employees comply with all applicable UC policies and procedures, such as the Disclosure of Financial Interest in Private Sponsors of Research.
As a premiere research university and a public trust, we promote appropriate collaborations and dissemination of our results of these alliances for the advancement of society. University policy and guidelines frame our interactions with industry and obligations to the university in these interactions.
Below are several links to guide industry partnerships at UC Davis:
Additional Researcher Resources
With our mission of research, teaching, and public service, industry-university collaborations built upon the campus’ research strengths often provide the opportunity to fulfill these goals: students are taught the most up-to-date research methods, cutting-edge research is performed and published, and research leads to an increase in knowledge, technology and business development which improves the quality of life. As a premiere research university and a public trust, we promote appropriate collaborations and dissemination of the results of these alliances for the advancement of society. University policy and guidelines frame our interactions with industry and obligations to the university in these interactions.
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