TOV manages the drafting and negotiation of agreements related to the commercialization of intellectual property.

Agreement Types

TOV collaborates with schools, sponsors, and principal investigators to draft, review, negotiate, and execute a variety of agreement types .

Collaboration Agreements

A collaboration agreement is a contractual arrangement between parties to collaborate on a project or initiative without providing financial support or funding to the other party. It outlines the terms, responsibilities, and expectations of each party involved in the collaboration. While financial resources are not provided, the agreement may address non-monetary contributions, such as expertise, resources, or intellectual property rights. The purpose of a collaboration agreement is to establish a framework for cooperation, define project goals, allocate responsibilities, and protect the interests of all parties involved in the collaboration.

Data Transfer or Data Use Agreement

A data use agreement (DUA), also known as a data transfer agreement (DTA), is a legal contract that governs data sharing, outlining access, use, and security measures. It ensures compliance, defines purposes, and establishes ownership and retention procedures, promoting responsible data practices and trust between parties.

Inbound Project Funding/Support (Sponsored Research Agreements)

A sponsored research agreement (SRA) is a funding agreement where a party (referred to as the “sponsor”) provides financial support to another party (referred to as the “awardee”) for a specific research project or related activity. The sponsor can be a foundation, government agency, for-profit entity, research institute, or another university. TOV only facilitates industry sponsored research agreements (non-clinical trial). An SRA typically includes a statement of work, budget, and period of performance, and outlines reporting requirements, intellectual property rights, and other conditions set by the sponsor.

Inter-Institutional Agreement

An Inter-Institutional Agreement (IIA) is a contract that governs the joint ownership of intellectual property. An IIA establishes the responsibilities for patenting and commercializing jointly owned intellectual property and outlines the allocation of legal expenses and license revenue among the institutions that hold joint ownership rights to the intellectual property.

Licensing Agreements

A licensing agreement is a legal contract granting permission for a licensee to use NYU’s intellectual property. It outlines the terms, restrictions, milestones, and fees associated with the authorize

Material Transfer Agreements

A material transfer agreement (MTA) is a legal contract that governs the transfer of tangible research materials between two parties. MTAs establish the terms and conditions under which materials are shared, including restrictions on use, intellectual property rights, confidentiality, publication, and liability. An MTA ensures that the provider retains ownership and control over the materials while allowing the recipient to use them for specific purposes.

  • An in-bound MTA is a contract for receiving materials from an external provider. It allows NYU researchers to utilize the materials while complying with legal requirements and protecting the interests of the provider.
  • An out-bound MTA is a contract that governs the transfer of research materials from NYU to an external recipient.
Non-Disclosure/Confidentiality Agreements

A non-disclosure agreement (NDA), also known as a confidentiality agreement (CDA), is a legal contract that establishes a confidential relationship between parties. It ensures that sensitive information shared between them remains confidential and protected from unauthorized disclosure. The NDA/CDA outlines the scope of confidential information, the obligations of the receiving party to maintain its secrecy, and the consequences of breaching the agreement. Its purpose is to safeguard proprietary or other valuable information and maintain the trust and confidentiality between the parties involved.

Option Agreement

Option Agreements offer a time-limited opportunity to evaluate an NYU innovation in order to make a more informed decision before entering into an exclusive license agreement. An option agreement does not grant the company rights to commercialize the technology.

Submit or Initiate an Agreement

Agreements Request or Submission Process for the School of Medicine

Researchers at the School of Medicine can visit era.med.nyu.edu/Agreements/ and follow the prompts to initiate an agreement or complete an agreement submission.

Once the submission is received, a contracts manager will be assigned to the case who will handle the processing and negotiations for that agreement.

Agreements Request or Submission Process for Washington Square

Washington Square uses Cayuse to log and or track agreements. School department administrators establish a Cayuse record and route it accordingly for review prior to submitting an agreement to TOV for review and signature. Once the submission is received, a contracts manager is assigned to the case who will handle the processing and negotiations for that agreement.

For assistance or more information about NYU agreements, please reach out to
TOVcontracts@nyulangone.org.