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Research Collaboration, Technical Collaboration

RIKEN provides services such as collaborative research and technical consultation to private companies, universities, and other research institutes upon request.

Announcements

Based on recommendations and guidelines from governmental agencies, RIKEN has introduced "knowledge-based value expenditures," effective from fiscal year 2025 for expenses corresponding to the added value brought by scientific and technological knowledge in joint research, etc. and other collaborations. Additionally, regarding indirect expenses, considering that it has become common practice for universities and research institutions to allocate indirect expenses at a rate of 30% or more when collaborating with external organizations, RIKEN intends to revise its previous policy from "20% or more" to "30% or more."
For details, please see Request for understanding and cooperation regarding knowledge-based value expenditures and indirect expenses, Introduction of knowledge-based value expenditures and changes to indirect expenses in joint research, etc., and the pamphlet Calculation method of expenses used for joint research, etc.
We sincerely appreciate your understanding of these changes regarding knowledge-based value expenditures and indirect expenses.

Collaborative research

A form of partnership in which a private company, university, or research institute conducts research in collaboration with RIKEN.

Main conditions

  • Period: to be determined by mutual agreement
  • Collaborative research fees: Based upon the division of research roles. May include payment for partial allocation of roles.
  • Ownership of invention: In principle, any invention made by the parties will be jointly owned.
  • Patent expenses for collaborative inventions: The collaborating company will bear all patent costs for filing, prosecuting and maintaining each joint invention (unless RIKEN licenses the invention to a third party)

Administrative procedures

  • 1.Advance consultation: The applicant and lab will discuss whether collaborative research is possible, conditions of the collaboration, and other such matters.
  • 2.Submit documents: The applicant does not need to submit any documents. (The relevant lab at RIKEN will create a Collaborative Research Plan.)
  • 3.Sign a Collaborative Research Agreement

Collaborative Research Agreement (standard form)

RIKEN's mission is to disseminate research results for the greatest public benefit and solve societal issues. RIKEN's goal is for inventions generated at the institute (including the results of collaborative research) to be further developed and commercialized for the benefit of society. We will prepare a research agreement that is aligned with these objectives.

  • *Standard forms cannot be modified. An agreement made using a standard form can be signed promptly - as soon as agreement is reached regarding the items that change in accordance with the content of the research (such as the allocation of roles, collaborative research fees, etc.)
  • *RIKEN may ask for clauses to be added, removed, or corrected in accordance with the content of the collaborative research.

Technical guidance/consultation

A service by which RIKEN offers technical support, using technologies, expertise, and resources in its possession, to private companies and other entities.

Main conditions

  • Period: to be determined by mutual agreement
  • Technical consultation fees: Decided upon consultation. Payment is to be made in a single installment at the time of signing the contract.
  • Ownership of invention: If a new invention is developed, notify RIKEN immediately. Ownership will be determined by mutual agreement.

Administrative procedures

Material transfers (outgoing from RIKEN)

For the provision of research materials*, it is essential that a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) be put in place before sending materials.

Main conditions

  • Provision fee: Paid or free
  • Ownership of invention: Depends on what is being provided; to be discussed.

Administrative procedures

  • 1.Advance consultation: Discuss with the lab whether provision is possible (material availability may be subject to existing contractual obligations), conditions of the provision, and other such matters
  • 2.Submit documents: The applicant does not need to submit any documents. (The relevant lab at RIKEN will create an application or other form, if required）
  • 3.Sign an MTA (Material Transfer Agreement)
  • *Here, "research materials" refers to biological materials, research samples, experimental equipment, prototypes, research data, lab notebooks, etc. created in the course of, or as a result of, research at RIKEN.

Commissioned research

A service by which RIKEN conducts research commissioned by a private company, university, or research institute.

Main conditions

  • Period: to be determined by mutual agreement
  • Commission fee, etc.: Decided upon consultation. Payment is to be made in a single installment at the time of signing the contract, in principle.
  • Ownership of invention: Owned by RIKEN, in principle
  • Licensing: Consult if desired; can be licensed to the commissioner or a party designated by them.

Administrative procedures

  • 1.Advance consultation: Discuss with the lab whether commissioning is possible, the conditions for it, and other such matters
  • 2.Submit documents: Request for Commisshioned reseach
  • 3.Sign a Commissioned Research Agreement

Commissioned tests

A service by which RIKEN provides private companies, universities, and research institutes to utilize RIKEN's testing technologies.

Main conditions

  • Period: to be determined by mutual agreement
  • Commissioned test fees: Decided upon consultation. Payment is to be made in a single installment at the time of signing the contract, in principle.

Administrative procedures

  • 1.Advance consultation: Discuss whether commissioning is possible, the conditions for it, and other such matters with the relevant lab
  • 2.Submit documents: Request for Commissioned Test
  • 3.Send written acknowledgement/invoice. Tests will begin after the commissioned testing fee is transferred.
  • 4.Once commissioned tests are completed, RIKEN sends a report

Indirect expenses

Collaborative research fees, commissioning fees, and other such fees include not only direct expenses (core expenditures and knowledge-based value expenditures), but also indirect expenses (for private companies at least 30% of direct expenses; for universities and research institutes at least 10% of direct expenses).

  • Core expenditures: Personnel expenses, travel expenses, equipment costs, space fees, supplies expenses, and other expenditures directly necessary for the lab to conduct the collaborative research, etc.
  • Knowledge-based value expenditures: A fee calculated in consideration of the added value that RIKEN's scientific and technical knowledge gives to the collaborative research, and the degree of its contribution to the external institution (an amount equal to at least 10% of core expenditures)
  • Indirect expenses: Expenses to establish and maintain RIKEN's research environment, and to promote industry-academia collaboration.

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