Doing Business with KU: Guide for Industry

KU and its researchers seek partnerships with business and industry. Collaborating on sponsored projects, transferring technology and starting companies are important elements of KU’s mission in research and economic development.

Corporate Identity: KUCR, Inc. / KUMC-RI, Inc. and KUCTC

The University of Kansas is a public institution of higher education. The University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc. (KUCR) on the Lawrence campus is a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation. KUCR is the agent of the University for soliciting and receiving grants and research agreements from external funding sources. The University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, Inc. (KUMC-RI) located at the Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, is a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation that is the agent for the Medical Center for soliciting and receiving grants and research agreements from external funding. The KU Center for Technology Commercialization (KUCTC) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation that is the technology transfer and intellectual property commercialization agent for KUCR and KUMC-RI.

Business and Industry Outreach

To discuss the sponsorship of research projects, contact Carey Novak, director of business and industry outreach, at (785) 864-9004 cnovak@ku.edu.

KU Center for Technology Commercialization

At the University of Kansas the tradition of collaboration between research and industry dates back more than 40 years to when Takeru Higuchi, widely recognized as the "Father of Physical Pharmacy," joined the University as Lawrence campus faculty. KU has build steadily on its foundation of research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the life sciences as well as information and telecommunications technology, physical science, education and social sciences, with the various iterations of the KU Center for Technology Commercialization (KUCTC) working with the numerous units across campuses to advance entrepreneurship, protect intellectual property, and move technology to the marketplace. Contact KUCTC to discuss the licensing of KU technology, at (785) 864-7189 or (913) 588-5721 ottip@ku.edu.

Sponsoring Research

KU encourages the commercial development of intellectual property developed in the course of sponsored research. Sponsors are typically granted a first option for an exclusive or non-exclusive license to any resulting intellectual property. The cost of an option and/or royalty rates is normally negotiated at the time of licensing. If federal funds contribute to a project, federal laws govern some rights on the use of project-specific intellectual property.

Projects funded by public or private entities should cover the full cost of the activity, including direct and facilities and administrative (F & A) costs. F & A rates vary depending on the type and location of the research activity. For a complete set of current rates, please contact:

Conflict of Obligations

KU does not knowingly accept a contract that conflicts with the obligations of another agreement. An agreement may not include a general restriction that prevents the University from doing research for other sponsors in similar areas.

Authority to Contract

Faculty and staff are encouraged to discuss ideas for potential research projects with industry representatives. Actual work should not begin on a project until the appropriate documents are submitted through the University's internal review process and both parties have signed a mutually acceptable agreement. Only designated officials are authorized to sign agreements for the University. Faculty or University Researchers may not obligate KU in this manner.

Scientific Standards and Liability

As a public research university, KU conducts research according to scientifically accepted standards. The University cannot accept a penalty if a sponsor is not satisfied with research results, nor can it indemnify or hold a sponsor harmless.

Publication

As an institution of higher education, KU must be free to disseminate the results of research and other scholarly activities. Therefore, the University may only accept agreements that preserve the right to publish.

KUCTC Licensing Process

KUCTC's licensing process is designed to achieve two goals: to bring additional sponsored research funding to KU and to put the inventions of KU faculty and staff to work for the benefit of society. KUCTC shares in the development risk by requiring a reasonable license fee and a royalty based on the product or process being sold or used. KUCTC offers its licensees confidentiality, which can be very important when dealing with new product and process development issues.

Licenses are negotiated with the KUCTC Director, who has industry experience, and the KUCTC Corporate Counsel to custom tailor an agreement to meet the needs of both parties.

Successful licensees:

• See the likely commercial value of one of KU's technologies.
• Have the capability to develop early-stage technology (typical of university research) and are willing to make a reasonable effort to commercialize it.
• Are able to demonstrate serious intent by paying a reasonable licensing fee and patent costs associated with the technology.
• Are willing to share some of the benefits of the commercial use of the technology with KU through payment of a reasonable royalty on sales of the Licensed Product.