Research and Development Collaboration Agreement
Research and Development Collaboration Agreements
Collaborate on research with ownership of results, background IP and publication rights all settled before work begins.
- Advocates & Solicitors
- Offices in Kuala Lumpur & Johor Bahru
- Confidential, no obligation
Real lawyers, one team behind every matter
Who this is for
Sound familiar?
Companies collaborating on product or process research
Businesses partnering with universities or research institutions
Parties pooling technology for joint development
Organisations receiving research grants requiring collaboration terms
What's at stake
What is really at stake
- 01Two organisations agree to research together.Each brings existing knowledge and both expect to use whatever emerges.
- 02But who owns the results, who may commercialise them, what happens to each party's background IP, and whether either can publish are questions that become intractable once there is something valuable to argue about.
In plain words
Research and Development Collaboration Agreement
Collaboration documentation covering the research programme and contributions, background and foreground intellectual property, ownership and commercialisation rights, publication, confidentiality, funding, and what happens if the collaboration ends early.
What good looks like
Imagine a collaboration where background IP stays with its owner, results are allocated in advance, commercialisation rights are clear, and publication follows an agreed process.
What you get
What we deliver
Scope and fee are agreed in writing before any work starts, so you know exactly what you are getting.
- 01
Research programme, contributions and funding defined
- 02
Background and foreground IP allocated
- 03
Commercialisation rights and cross-licences
- 04
Publication and confidentiality provisions
- 05
Early termination and results treatment
How we work
Clear from the first conversation
- 1
Send a short request
Tell us what the matter is about. It takes under a minute and stays confidential.
- 2
Akmal sets a time with you
We reply within 30 minutes in office hours to arrange your consultation, online or at our KL or JB office.
- 3
Advice, then a written proposal
You get a clear view of the issues and options, then a written scope and fee proposal.
- 4
Work begins on the agreed scope
Akmal leads the matter with a team of our lawyers, working to the scope you approved. You get regular updates at every key step.
Who leads your matter
Led by Akmal Saufi, supported by our team
Akmal leads your matter as Partner. Depending on the work, other lawyers in our team handle parts of it day to day, with Akmal overseeing the matter.
Akmal Saufi
Partner, Messrs Akmal Saufi & Co
- Advocate & Solicitor, Malaysia
- Over 13 years in transactional work: M&A, joint ventures, land and infrastructure
- LLB (Hons), International Islamic University Malaysia
The team behind your matter
Meet the team →Who we have acted for
Organisations we have acted for
Federal government agencies & statutory bodies
Johor state bodies & local authorities
Government-linked companies
Private sector & NGOs
Shown with permission. Government agencies, statutory bodies and government-linked companies are identified as such. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement by any government, ministry or agency.
Next step
Request a consultation with Akmal
- 1Send a short request. It takes under a minute.
- 2Akmal reviews it and arranges a time with you.
- 3You get clear advice, then a written scope and fee proposal.
We reply within 30 minutes · Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5:30pm
Your details stay confidential. Sending a request does not mean you have appointed us.
- Licensed advocates & solicitors
- Professional indemnity insured
- Offices in KL & JB
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Still unsure? Send a short request and Akmal will tell you plainly whether and how we can help.
What is background IP?
Who owns the results?
Can either party publish?
What is Legal That Works?
What if I’m not sure what legal service I need?
Who will be helping me?
Before you sign
The cost of waiting
IP ownership is straightforward to agree before anyone knows what the research will produce, and extremely difficult afterwards.
We reply within 30 minutes · Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5:30pm
