The Innovation Handbook, 3rd Edition

5.5

Research collaborations

Simon Portman at Marks & Clerk Solicitors navigates through the potential difficulties that intellectual property can cause when research is conducted jointly

In a research collaboration, two or more parties cooperate in carrying out a research project, usually with a view to the technology generated by that project being used commercially. By cooperating with each other in this way, the participants can pool resources and expertise and take advantage of intellectual property and facilities they may not necessarily own themselves.

For example, a company with a drug and a company with a drug delivery device may collaborate in exploring how the drug can be incorporated into the device so that the two can be sold as ...