Collaborate on a research project
Oxford has unique breadth and depth in its research capabilities and it is keen to work collaboratively with businesses and other organisations for the benefit of all involved and also wider society.
The University actively encourages its academics to take part in collaborations, and provides support at all stages of the necessary interactions. Many collaborations are interdisciplinary, or multidisciplinary, and all relationships are bespoke.
Assistance is offered within the University by dedicated business development professionals, to help facilitate the necessary relationships, and to conduct contractual negotiations pragmatically and efficiently.
General Discussions
For a general discussion about how you can work with the University of Oxford on a research project email the Innovation and Engagement Team who will put you in touch with the right specialist team. Alternatively you can use the details below to contact them directly.
Research Contract Models
To expedite contracting negotiations the University of Oxford offers three contracting models, in addition to the Lambert toolkit, which can be used where proposed projects meet the relevant criteria. When this does not apply the University will continue to use standard contract templates or draft bespoke agreements. An overview of the Discover, Develop and Translate models is provided below but we recommend that you and your academic partner contact Research Services for an early discussion of the proposed project to establish the most appropriate approach.
Discover (University-led research involving a business partner)
| Ownership of results | Intellectual Property Rights in Results owned by the University |
| Use of Results | The Business Partner has the right to call on the University to negotiate a non-exclusive or an exclusive licence on commercial terms |
| Academic Publication | Expected |
| Financial Contributions | Provided solely by the Business Partner or jointly by the Business Partner and public funders (e.g. Research Councils) if available and agreed |
| Other Contributions | Provided both by the Business Partner (for example, useful or essential Background, research materials or tools) and by the University (for example, useful or essential Background; useful or essential equipment and facilities) |
| Patenting | The University is responsible for patent protection decisions / costs. Past and future patent costs to be reimbursed by the Business Partner should any exclusive licence be granted. |
For the Discover model to be considered, the following circumstances are likely to apply:
- The Project relies substantially on the University’s Background.
- The Project will take place primarily on the University’s premises.
- Most of the individuals working on the Project will be employees or students of the University.
The Project represents an integral part of the Principal Investigator’s overall research activities, and the Intellectual Property Rights in the Results will therefore be of significance to the PI’s long-term plans.
Develop (University-led research with preferential access for sponsoring business partner)
| Ownership of results | Intellectual Property Rights in Results owned by the University |
| Use of results | The University grants the Business Partner a non-exclusive, fully paid-up, royalty-free non-sub-licensable licence to use the Results. The Business Partner has the right to call on the University to negotiate an exclusive licence on commercial terms. Pre-agreed preferential terms provided by OUI available if desired |
| Academic publication | Expected |
| Financial contribution | The Business Partner funds the Project at a Standard Project Rate |
| Other contributions | Provided both by the Business Partner (for example, useful or essential Background, research materials or tools) and by the University (for example, useful or essential Background; useful or essential equipment and facilities) |
| Patenting | The University is responsible for patent protection decisions / costs. Past and future patent costs to be reimbursed by the Business Partner should any exclusive licence be granted |
For the Develop model to be considered, the following circumstances are likely to apply:
- An exclusive licence will provide an effective means through which the Business Partner can commercialise the Results.
- There are likely to be applications / fields of use, markets / territories in which the Business Partner is unable to commercialise, or is uninterested in commercialising, the Results.
- The Project represents an integral part of the Principal Investigator’s overall research activities, and the Intellectual Property Rights in the Results will therefore be of significance to the PI’s long-term plans.
The Project will be based more on the University’s Background than on the Business Partner’s Background.
Translate (Business-led research involving academia)
| Ownership of results | Intellectual Property Rights in Results owned by the Business Partner |
| Use of results | The University retains the right to use the Results for Academic and Research Purposes |
| Academic publication | Expected |
| Financial contribution | The Business Partner funds the Project at a Higher Project Rate |
| Other contributions | Provided both by the Business Partner (for example, useful or essential Background, research materials or tools) and by the University (for example, useful or essential Background; useful or essential equipment and facilities) |
| Patenting | The Business Partner is responsible for patent protection decisions / costs |
For the Translate model to be considered, the following circumstances are likely to apply:
- The Project will be critical to the development of the Business Partner’s technology or its business strategy.
- The Project will rely substantially on the Business Partner’s Background.
- The Project would be difficult or impossible to carry out without privileged access to the Business Partner’s Background.
- The focus of the Project will be on development of the Business Partner’s Background.
- Student participation in the Project should be considered carefully with the academic supervisor, and ability to include Results in a thesis for a degree must be preserved
For the Translate model to be used, the following conditions must be met:
- The Project can be ring-fenced from the Principal Investigator’s other research projects.
The Business Partner’s ownership of the Intellectual Property Rights in the Results is irrelevant to the Principal Investigator’s other research Projects or future research (that is, there will be no knock-on effect on the PI’s other research or related Intellectual Property Rights).
Mathematical, Physical & Life Sciences
Groups in the Mathematical, Physical & Life Sciences collaborate with many companies worldwide, from multi-nationals to local start-ups. Collaborative projects at Oxford University are just that – collaborative, as we find this helps to ‘ground’ the research and maximise the value to both parties.
Collaborations typically range from 1 year sponsored MSc projects, through 3-4 year DPhil level projects, to longer term projects involving post-doctoral researchers. In all cases research is conducted under the expert supervision of a leading member of faculty and we seek the active involvement of the sponsoring company.
Find out more
Visit the Industrial Research Collaborations webpage.
Contact Us
Murray Gardner, Tel: +44 (0) 1865 283833
Medical Sciences
Oxford works with scientists and industrial partners to promote and facilitate both clinical and pre-clinical collaborative research projects. Our areas of research excellence are broad and include fundamental biology, drug discovery and development, medical devices, genomics and diagnostics, technology development, clinical studies and public health projects. Through partnerships with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, the University can offer a point of contact for working with the NHS.
Find out more
Visit the Business Partnerships webpage.
Contact Us
Maxine Allen, Tel: +44 (0) 1865 289871
Humanities
Humanities researchers regularly engage with external organisations, community groups, and businesses. Examples of current collaborations include the NHS and the National Trust.
Several schemes run by TORCH | The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities support collaborative research including Knowledge Exchange Fellowships and opportunities for public and wider engagement.
Find out more
Read about current opportunities through TORCH.
Contact Us
Victoria McGuinness, Tel: +44 (0) 1865 615362
Social Sciences
The Social Science departments are all committed to research which develops a greater understanding of all aspects of society, from the impact of political, legal and economic systems on social and economic welfare to human rights and security.
A knowledge exchange facilitator and a knowledge exchange support assistant provide advice and support for those wishing to embark on knowledge exchange projects in the Social Sciences.
Find out more
A list of the departments and cross divisional units in the Social Sciences Division can be found here.
Specific links to partnership programmes are shown below:
Contact Us
Helen Channon-Wells, Tel: +44 (0) 1865 614871
Global Research
Tools and information on finding collaborators in the Global South can be found on the Oxford Global Research site. The website includes information on finding collaborators in Oxford, case studies and a list of centres of expertise in Oxford's research strengths.
Find out more
Visit the Oxford Global Research site.
Contact Us
Matt Carr, Tel: +44 (0) 1865 289833