Types of Agreements
University Agreements for Industry Engagement
Agreement Name | Type of Work/Use | IP Terms | Funding Restriction | F&A |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sponsored Project Agreement (SPA) | Research | Ownership follows inventorship; the sponsor has a time limited option to negotiate a fee-based or royalty bearing license | None | Research rate for on-campus or off-campus work as appropriate |
Master Research Agreement (MRA) | Multiple sponsored programs | Standard Terms as in SPA | Intended for multiple research projects across multiple colleges and long-term relationships | Research rate for on-campus or off-campus work as appropriate |
Testing Service Agreement or Fabrication Service Agreement (TSA or FSA) | Use of specialized services and facilities that are driven by protocols and specifications established by external firms and contain no experimental design or intellectual capital beyond that required to create the quote, and direct and complete the work as instructed by client | No IP anticipated on behalf of the University | None | None if TSA/FSA is signed without alteration Negotiated TSAs and FSAs will be assessed the "Other Sponsored Activity" rate for on-campus work as appropriate |
Public Service Development Work Order | Simplified contract mechanism for non-research activities | No IP anticipated; ownership follows inventorship | None | "Other Sponsored Activity" rate for on-campus or off-campus work as appropriate |
Literature Review Agreement | Simplified contract mechanism for literature review | No IP anticipated; ownership follows inventorship | None | "Other Sponsored Activity" rate for on-campus or off-campus work as appropriate |
Academic Course Design Agreement | For use of sponsorship of undergraduate and/or graduate academic coursework involving “real-life” problems; external sponsor proposes a problem and agrees to the terms of agreement | Ownership follows inventorship; the sponsor has a time limited option to negotiate a royalty bearing license | $25,000 max | Discounted rate of 15% available when an agreement is executed without changes |
Collaborative Research Agreement (CRA) | Collaborative research of mutual interest and benefit to NC State and collaborator for $0. Includes confidentiality terms, transfer of materials, publication terms, etc. | Ownership follows inventorship; non-inventing party receives non-commercial license | No funding exchanged | N/A |
Grants | Simplified contract mechanism for both research and non-research activities. Typically from a federal agency or a company’s foundation. | Ownership follows inventorship | None | Utilizes the appropriate Research, Instruction or other Sponsored Activity for on-campus or off-campus work |
Gifts | Must have no deliverables, terms, conditions or detailed financial reporting. All gifts are irrevocable. Gifts are assessed a 7% fee. | N/A | ||
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) | Sponsored scholarly activities (Research) | Ownership follows inventorship; the sponsor has a time limited option to negotiate a fee-based or royalty bearing license | $50,000 max Agreement used once per sponsor | Discounted rate of 15% is available when an agreement is executed without changes |