Many innovation funding calls, such as those offered by FINEP and FAPEMIG, include among their modalities the possibility of carrying out innovation projects in partnership with Institutes of Science and Technology (ICTs), including universities, research centers, and public or private technological institutes.
This is not a general requirement, but in certain funding lines it represents a strategic and relevant option. In this context, a challenge that often arises is not the decision to establish the partnership itself, but rather its formalization.
Cooperation agreements with ICTs involve issues that must be clearly defined before the project begins, including:
- Ownership and co-ownership of intellectual property
- Sharing of economic results
- The role of supporting foundations in resource management
- Non-disclosure and confidentiality clauses
- Accountability and reporting to the funding agency
Of course, each funding call establishes its own rules and requirements regarding the formalization of these partnerships, making a specific analysis essential before structuring any agreement.
In any case, regardless of the program, the absence of clear definitions regarding the issues listed above may create difficulties during the execution of the project. For this reason, these aspects should be carefully structured to ensure a successful partnership.
