If research materials related to biological, chemical or engineering protocols are exchanged or transferred between researchers outside of Kent State, an MTA should be executed. The university has developed an MTA template that, if used, may speed up the review and approval process as it has been drafted to avoid provisions to which the university cannot agree. An MTA outlines the nature and conditions for sharing the research materials between Kent State and a third party, which could be a company, a research institute or a university. Materials that are not unique to the university and are readily available from other commercial sources generally do not need an MTA.
The common issues with agreements are restrictions on publications, free licenses, assignment of future inventions and creations under the agreement and general legal provisions. Our office works to protect your research results and your ability to publish by negotiating mutually amenable terms through these agreements with the third parties.