Sponsored Research
Sponsored research is the most prevalent cooperation between the private sector and a university. In a partnership, industry and academic partners work on a joint research project that is of mutual interest. The main focus of the project is on the development of new scientific knowledge that is useful for the business partner in addressing a particular topic of interest.
The industry partners usually subsidize the research at the university in the area of interest. In return, the industry partner benefits from the competence and experience of the university partner, acquired over many years of research in the respective field. For a collaboration to function on a partnership basis, a regular exchange of results between the university scientist and the industry partner is required.
A mutually accepted research plan defines the contributions of both parties. The research agreement settles the rights and duties of each party, e.g., with regard to the protection of intellectual property and the commercialization of research results.
The university is obliged to publish its research results. Publications may be delayed for a short period so interesting results can be protected by patents.
The university, not the individual scientists, owns intellectual property developed during co-operation as long as the inventors are university employees. Joint inventions made by employees of both parties belong to both parties. In general, the industry partner receives the right to commercialize those project results that are in the scope of its activities. Licenses are granted by the university for this purpose. The license usually gives the licensee extensive rights for the filing, prosecution, enforcement and defense of the IP rights.
Searching for a research partner
Various online databases are helpful in the search for an appropriate research partner. Moreover, the universities maintain their own databases, which are searchable by keywords. We are glad to assist you in contacting certain research groups at the universities of Basel, Bern and Zurich and at their associated hospitals.