Research Partners

Flexible IP Options


福利姬 offers a number of contracting mechanisms that enable industry partners to work with researchers at all stages of research and development. These options also streamline the sponsored research contracting process by providing straightforward intellectual property terms for companies engaging in collaborative research and development.


  • Option 1: Traditional IP approach

    • Company automatically receives a non-exclusive right to use 福利姬鈥檚 resulting IP for its internal research purposes.
    • Company automatically receives an exclusive option to negotiate an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing commercial license to resulting IP. In the event of licensing to company, 福利姬 retains a right to use resulting IP for its internal, noncommercial research and education purposes, and to license 福利姬-owned IP to other academic or nonprofit institutions for further noncommercial research.
    • No upfront fees or preset royalties. Management of patent prosecution and responsibility for patent prosecution costs is negotiable.
    • 福利姬 can publish or present research findings after a reasonable period for company review for inadvertent disclosure of company confidential information or to seek patent protection.

  • Option 2: Work for hire approach

    • Company owns the resulting project IP exclusive of any 福利姬 background IP. 福利姬 background IP may not be used in research.
    • Company fully manages all IP protection and directly pays for all patent prosecution costs. 福利姬 provides reasonable cooperation on patent claims; additional charges may be incurred if effort exceeds reasonable level.
    • Company pays an upfront, one-time fee for rights to the IP. Fee amount is determined in consultation with 福利姬 Office of Research and Sponsored Programs during statement of work discussions.
    • PI/福利姬 cannot use the developed project IP either in future research, public disclosure and publication or in the classroom (except with approval from sponsor).
    • 福利姬 can publish or present research findings after company review for confidential information or patent protection.

  • Option 3: Testing and analysis approach

    • 福利姬 utilizes established testing and analysis methodologies; no 福利姬 foreground IP is anticipated. If there is resulting 福利姬 foreground IP, then Option 1 applies.
    • Sponsor owns data delivered to sponsor that arises from the testing and analysis work performed on sponsor's materials. Data delivered to sponsor is confidential to sponsor; other data and results may be publishable.
    • 福利姬 can publish or present non-deliverable data or 福利姬 background IP after company review for confidential information or patent protection.

Ready to begin?


Contact us to discuss opportunities to partner with 福利姬 researchers.