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Research Contracts - How to Get Started

Steps to be taken by the researcher:

  • With the sponsor, determine the scope of work, milestones, outcomes/outputs, principal researchers, etc.  Seek advice from BDMs on matters relating to intellectual property or commercialisation potential
  • Using Monash budget template, cost the project.  Seek BDM and/or Resource Officer advice/assistance for all budget matters
  • Ask for your BDM to help negotiate the contract price and/or terms, if you are not comfortable doing this yourself
  • Obtain advice from HR if the Research Contract has significant implications for researcher remuneration
  • Get in principle agreement from the sponsor on scope of work, milestones, terms and price, and in principle approval from your department/school/faculty
  • Send the signed Research Office coversheet/Checklist for Contracts to the Research Office

Scenario 1   (where standard Monash contract is used)

  • Provide sponsor with a copy of Monash Standard Agreement
  • If the sponsor is agreeable to the standard terms and conditions of the Agreement, arrange for execution through the Research Office
  • The Research Office:
    • Classifies the work as research
    • Arranges for execution of the Agreement
    • Records the Research Contract on its database
    • Authorizes a research fund account to be opened to enable researcher/department to invoice sponsor
    • Distributes executed copies to relevant parties

See Flowchart 1

 

Scenario 2  (where the sponsor’s Agreement is used)

  • The sponsor will usually send a draft of their standard Agreement to the researcher, who should immediately forward it to the Research Office
  • The Research Office arranges for legal review through the Monash University Solicitor’s Office
  • The assigned solicitor communicates directly with theresearcher and sponsor’s legal representative to finalise the Agreement, and arranges for execution.
  • Meanwhile, the researcher should send a signed Research Office coversheet/Checklist for Contracts to the Research Office
  • The University Solicitor forwards a copy of finalized agreement to Research Office for classification
  • The Research Office:
    • Classifies the work as research
    • Records the Research Contract on its database
    • Authorizes a research fund account to be opened to enable researcher/department to invoice sponsor

See Flowchart 2

  

About Contracts