Having a productive relationship between researchers and their research commercialization colleagues is very important. Here are some practical “tips and traps” to achieve this, for managers of Research Commercialization Companies:

• Have regular meetings with research workers. These should seek agreement on the technical and commercial goals and review progress;
• Secure IPR and avoid premature disclosure. Keep comprehensive dated records of the research and communications related to it. Do not provide
• Valuable information to third parties without adequate protection. Use appropriate Confidential Disclosure Agreements (“CDAs”) and “Supply of Materials Agreements” (“SMAs”) when giving proprietary information and/or materials to others;
• Beware of compromising IPR. Third party CDAs and SMAs should be reviewed very carefully. “Grants” which a research institution may wish to
• Accept may actually be contracts under which third parties claim ownership in IP created. Terms for a research institution’s collaborative activities with outside groups should be agreed and understood by all those involved, if there are potential IPR consequences. Only senior executives of an institution and the Research Commercialization Company should have authority to bind these entities in contracts and “informal” collaborative arrangements should be avoided. Also, it is often overlooked that, unless there is an agreement to the contrary, consultants are normally the owners of the IPR they create.
• Ensure there is an IP policy which rewards inventors and that the policy is understood by all concerned.