Georgia Tech researchers may find it necessary to enter into agreements with entities or individuals outside Georgia Tech to facilitate a research project. Such agreements may describe understandings about roles and responsibilities in a potential research collaboration, permit the exchange of non-public proprietary information or date, or the exchange of materials for use in research. It is the policy of Georgia Tech such agreements shall:

• Be negotiated by the office responsible for the agreement,
• Be signed by an individual authorized by Georgia Tech to do so,
• Include a start date and a termination date consistent with the project, and
• Become part of the project file for research awards, for human subjects protocols, and IACUC protocols for which the agreement is relevant.

These agreements may be executed by Georgia Institute of Technology, by Georgia Tech Research Corporation, or by Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation. These agreements themselves are not confidential although material or data exchanged pursuant to them may be considered proprietary.

Non-disclosure Agreements

It is the policy of the Georgia Institute of Technology that when proprietary information must be exchanged and Georgia Tech and an outside partner have determined to enter into a contract, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is used to outline the terms under which the proprietary information shall be exchanged. For more information, or to initiate an NDA, visit http://nda.gatech.edu/.

Material Transfer Agreements

A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) clarifies how the materials may be used and defines rights and responsibilities for both the provider and the recipient. Corporate & International Contracting handles all incoming and outgoing MTAs. Visit http://mta.gatech.edu/ to determine if an agreement is needed or to initiate an agreement.

Memoranda of Understanding (MoU)

It is the policy of Georgia Tech that when two or more parties wish to engage in a collaborative effort in research, education or other activities that furthers the mission of Georgia Tech that a Memoranda of Understanding [MOU] is utilized. MOUs are legal agreements defining the roles and responsibilities. MoUs do not include terms and conditions for funding, exchange of materials, non-disclosure of proprietary information, licensing or future licensing of intellectual property, or specific research activities. MoUs may, however, describe how agreements for such activities will be negotiated and establish a timeline for doing so. For more information see http://www.legal.gatech.edu/