The University of Iowa encourages relationships with the corporate and nonprofit sectors. We have participated in a wide variety of agreements involving basic and applied research, evaluation, training, demonstrations, public-service partnerships, and other purposes within the UI mission. We offer the general information below as an introduction to The University of Iowa and its contracting services. Questions relating to the development, negotiation, and execution of agreements should be directed, please, to DSP-contracts@uiowa.edu or a member of the Division of Sponsored Programs staff.

Model Agreements

The University of Iowa has adopted standard contract formats for various situations. These model agreements reflect UI policies, State regulations and guidelines recommended by the National Academy of Science Government, University, Industry Roundtable. Other types of model agreements and associated procedures are available here.

Selected UI Policies

The following language describes selected University policies contained in the contract terms:

• Human and Animal Research and Biosafety Standards  The University of Iowa strictly abides by all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding human and animal research and biosafety standards.
   
• Insurance  The University of Iowa satisfies all claims against it in its capacity as a self-insured agency of State of Iowa government. The University of Iowa is covered as follows:
  • a) Workers' compensation as provided by Chapter 85, Iowa Code.
  • b) Liability claims against the State of Iowa as provided by Chapters 25 and 669 of the Iowa Code. In addition, the University participates in a self-insurance pool for purposes of vehicular liability, including owned, non-owned and rental vehicles. Claims up to $250,000 are paid from the self-insurance pool. Claims exceeding $250,000 are processed through the tort claims process in accordance with Chapter 669, Iowa Code.

Liability

The University of Iowa will be responsible and agrees to pay for any and all claims for wrongful death, personal injury or property damage incurred by reason of the negligence of the University or its employees arising from activities under the sponsored agreement to the full extent permitted by Chapter 669, Iowa Code, which is the exclusive remedy for processing tort claims against the State of Iowa.

Patents

The University's patent policies cover inventions and discoveries made by University of Iowa employees in the course of their work at the University. Inventions and discoveries made as part of sponsored research generally fall under these policies. Of course, The University of Iowa is willing to acknowledge a sponsor's prior proprietary standing in determining the applicability of its policies and acknowledges that in some cases both the sponsor and the institution may make intellectual contributions to an invention or discovery.

The purpose of The University of Iowa's patent program is to facilitate dissemination of scientific research findings for the public welfare and to reward faculty members professionally and financially for their inventiveness. A portion of the income derived from patent licensing is also used to advance and encourage further research within the University.

The University believes these goals can best be assured by University ownership of inventions, coupled with appropriate licensing arrangements. The University of Iowa Research Foundation manages The University of Iowa's patent program and will negotiate such rights as may be mutually agreed upon. The University recognizes that the license rights and negotiated royalty rates must be granted upon reasonable terms and conditions giving consideration to the nature of the invention and the standards of the industry.

Proposal and Budget Preparation

A proposal for a research project will be developed in a manner suited to the sponsor's requirements and consistent with University policy. The technical proposal should contain a description of the scope of the research, training or evaluation projects, the estimated duration of the project, the level of personnel effort anticipated and an appropriate budget of all cost items. These budget items usually include the following elements: salaries and fringe benefits, materials and supplies, equipment, other direct costs such as services, and facilities and administrative costs.

Publication and Confidentiality

As a public and academic institution, The University of Iowa must ensure that its faculty, staff and students may disseminate results of original research in a timely manner. Such policy protects the constitutional right of academic freedom, and allows for the proper and necessary recognition of the accomplishments of the University research community. At the same time, the University acknowledges the need to preserve intellectual property and to safeguard the sponsor's proprietary information.

To accommodate all these interests, the publication clause contained in the model agreement allows the sponsor thirty days to review all proposed publications and presentations. During the review period, the sponsor may request that any of its confidential or proprietary information be deleted, and that the presentation or publication be delayed for a maximum of six months in order to permit the filing of a patent application on the subject matter contained in the material proposed for public dissemination.