Virtual employees, AI influencers and synthetic content – legal classification and international perspectives
Pay-to-win or pay-to-lose? Monetization in gaming between business and consumer deception
Flash scaling and aggressive business models: Innovation between progress and evasion
The romanticization of the “fail fast” principle in startups – When does failure become deception towards stakeholders?
Automated pricing and dynamic pricing in e-commerce
Growth hacking and viral marketing – legal requirements
Liability when using VibeCoding and no-code platforms – implications for legal due diligence
Alternative financing models in Germany and other countries – admissibility and design
Legal organization and entrepreneurial structuring of influencer start-ups and personal brands
Taking on investors in a startup: timing, risks and legal framework
81aec81e ad3a 49cd b1b1 8d43b8e59145 24528606
Startups in the legal gray area: permissibility and limits of innovative business models
Moral and legal aspects of “Trust among founders”
Honesty and fair pricing for start-ups (SaaS, mobile apps and digital services)
Creating contracts with face models and voice models: A guide for the gaming industry
Legally compliant archiving of emails: legal requirements and practical implementation
License agreements for software start-ups
iStock 1405433207 scaled
Support with the foundation
Arbitration and alternative dispute resolution in corporate disputes
< Alle Themen
Drucken
Key Facts
  • A Sponsored Research Agreement (SRA) is a contract between companies and universities to finance specific research projects.
  • SRAs give companies access to the research expertise and infrastructure of academic institutions.
  • Important features are financing plans, ownership rights and confidentiality provisions.
  • The advantages are practically relevant research and additional sources of funding for academic institutions.
  • The challenges lie in maintaining academic freedom and managing conflicts of interest.
  • A well-structured SRA requires clear rules on IP exploitation and publication rights.
  • Clear project structures, progress reviews and open communication channels are crucial for success.

A Sponsored Research Agreement (SRA) is a contract under which a company or organization funds the conduct of specific research by a research institution or university. This type of agreement allows companies to benefit from the expertise and infrastructure of academic institutions, while universities can tap into additional sources of funding and conduct practice-relevant research. SRAs are common in many fields, particularly in science and engineering, medicine and technology development.

Main features:

– Detailed description of the research project and expected results
– Financing plan and payment modalities
– Regulations on property rights to research results and IP
– Provisions on confidentiality and publication
– Agreements on the use of research infrastructure and resources

Advantages and challenges:

SRAs offer companies access to highly specialized research expertise and enable the implementation of higher-risk or more fundamental research projects. For academic institutions, they represent an important source of funding and promote the practical relevance of research. Challenges arise from the need to preserve academic freedom, manage potential conflicts of interest and find a fair balance between the interests of both parties.

Legal aspects:
A well-structured SRA must contain clear regulations on ownership and usage rights to research results, publication rights and IP exploitation. Particular attention should be paid to the treatment of background IP, newly created IP and potential inventions. Confidentiality agreements, regulations on compliance with ethical standards and provisions on liability and warranty are also important.

Implementation and best practices:
A clear project structure with defined milestones, reporting obligations and quality assurance measures is essential for the success of an SRA. Regular progress reviews, open communication channels and conflict resolution mechanisms should be established. It is advisable to discuss potential scenarios for the utilization of results in advance and to make fair arrangements for unexpected discoveries or deviations from the project plan.

 

Inhaltsverzeichnis