The primary role of our unit is to vet and manage legal contracts associated with research projects to protect university interests. We ensure compliance with relevant legislation and university policies.
Contract vetting is essential to safeguard the university's interests, ensure compliance with legal requirements, and mitigate potential risks associated with research agreements.
Research contracts must comply with applicable legislation and university policies, which may include intellectual property laws, ethics guidelines, and university-specific regulations.
Yes, overheads are levied in every research contract as per university policy. These funds support the institution's research infrastructure and administrative costs.
Research contracts are signed by delegated university personnel, typically starting with the Dean and extending up to the highest-ranking officials, such as the Vice-Chancellor, depending on the contract's scope and value.
The time required for contract vetting and approval can vary based on the complexity of the contract and the workload of the unit. Typically, we aim to process contracts as efficiently as possible, striving for timely approvals.
Yes, researchers can request exceptions or modifications to standard contract terms. However, these requests should align with university policies and require thorough review and approval by our unit.
If you have questions or concerns about a research contract, please reach out to our unit directly. We are here to provide guidance, answer your questions, and address any concerns you may have.
Yes, a checklist or documentation is typically required for contract approval. This documentation helps ensure that all necessary elements of the contract are in order and that it complies with university policies.
To initiate a research project, you should contact our unit as early as possible in the project planning process. We will guide you through the contract initiation and approval procedures.
Yes, external organizations can collaborate on research projects with the university through research contracts. These agreements are carefully vetted to protect both university interests and those of our collaborators.
Please note that the answers provided here are general in nature and may vary depending on specific university policies and regulations. It is advisable to consult with our Research Contract Management Unit for guidance tailored to your situation.
The IPR Act applies to any research and development undertaken using funds allocated by a funding agency (the state, an organ of state or a state agency), excluding funds for scholarships and bursaries.
The IPR Act states that recipients of public funds own the IP developed with those funds. Basically, this means that a publicly financed institution such as a university or science council owns the IP developed by its staff and students if the IP is developed using public funds and emanates from a research and development project.
IP creators and their heirs at publicly financed institutions are entitled to share in the benefits from the successful commercialisation of their inventions. The exact benefit is subject to the specific institution’s policy, but the IPR Act prescribes a minimum benefit for the IP creators as 20% of the first R1 million of (gross) revenue accruing to the institution, and 30% of the net income thereafter.
Full cost means all direct and indirect costs of conducting a research project, as provided by the IPR Act. Full cost budget is prepared by the Department of Finance at UP. At the current moment the National Intellectual Property Management Management Office (NIPMO) approved rate is 37%.
Our office assists with the drafting and vetting of contracts including but not limited to:
The cost recovery fee is the fee calculated on the total contract, service or consultation price, and agreed with the funder in the contract agreement.
At the moment the cost recovery fee is 15%.
No. It is only applicable to funds budgeted for travelling, salaries of permanent employees, consumables and running costs.
Researchers can apply for the waiver of the cost recovery by writing a letter of motivation to the cost recovery fee committee. The letter of motivation must be sent to our office and we will table it with the committee.
All contracts will be signed by the appropriate official of the University starting with the Dean up to the Vice-Chancellor.
A checklist is a summary of an agreement, it highlights the most important clauses and requisite data relating to the project, such as the Principal Investigator’s details, Project income, cost recovery fee, funder details and names of authorised signatories. All Agreements that are processed through DRI must be accompanied by the DRI Registration Checklist which must be completed and signed off by the Head/Manager of Contracts in DRI; the Principal Investigator; the Head of Department; and the Dean; and/or the Vice- Principal: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education; and/or Vice-Chancellor and Principal, depending on the levels of funding and relevant delegations.
No, each agreement must have its own cost centre.
No, for audit purposes, funds should remain in the newly created cost centre.
Ten (10) days depending on the complexity of the agreement.
Yes
The Commercialization Unit at the University of Pretoria is responsible for bridging the gap between academia and industry. Our primary role is to facilitate the successful transfer of innovative research and intellectual property from the university to the commercial sector.
We provide support to researchers and academics in navigating the complexities of commercialization. This includes helping with market analysis, industry partnerships, and technology licensing.
We handle a range of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Our goal is to protect and commercialize the university's innovative outputs effectively.
Industry partners can collaborate with us by exploring licensing opportunities, forming research collaborations, and accessing the wealth of expertise available at the University of Pretoria. We facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships that drive innovation and economic impact.
We offer support to start-ups and entrepreneurs by helping them navigate the commercialization process, providing access to university technologies, and facilitating connections with potential investors and industry collaborators.
We take confidentiality seriously and ensure that all discussions and information shared with us are treated with the utmost discretion. We work within the legal framework to protect intellectual property and sensitive data.
The Commercialization Unit assists researchers and entrepreneurs in identifying and accessing funding opportunities for their projects. This may include grants, venture capital, or other sources of funding that align with the commercialization goals.
Stay connected by visiting our website, subscribing to newsletters, and following our social media channels. We regularly update our stakeholders on new developments, success stories, and upcoming events.
By facilitating the transfer of university innovations to the commercial sector, we play a vital role in fostering economic development. This includes creating new businesses, generating employment opportunities, and contributing to the growth of industries.
You can contact the Commercialization Unit at the University of Pretoria through our website or by reaching out to our dedicated team members. Contact information is available on our official platform, and we welcome any inquiries or collaboration proposals.
The TTO is responsible for identifying, protecting, and commercializing intellectual property developed by university students, researchers, and anyone associated with the university. Our primary goal is to bridge the gap between academia and industry by managing and commercializing valuable innovations.
In most cases, the IP developed by university students and researchers is owned by the university. The TTO helps manage and protect this IP on behalf of the university.
The TTO protects intellectual property through various meansincluding patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. We work closely with inventors to identify the most appropriate form of protection for their innovations.
To disclose an invention, you should complete an invention disclosure form, which is available at the TTO. Once submitted, our team will evaluate the invention and determine the appropriate next steps.
There are several commercialization pathways, including licensing the IP to existing companies, forming start-up companies, or entering into research collaborations with industry partners. The choice depends on the nature of the IP and market demand.
The support that the TTO gives to entrepreneurs/start-up companiesincludes guidance on business development, access to funding opportunities and assistance with navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship.
The timeline for obtaining a patent can vary, but it typically takes several years. The TTO works diligently to streamline the process and maximize the chances of successful patent grants.
Yes, in many cases, intellectual property developed with university resources is owned by the university. However, specific ownership arrangements may vary, and the TTO can provide guidance on this matter.
The TTO can assist in negotiating research collaboration agreements that govern the terms of such collaborations, including IP ownership and rights. We recommend involving the TTO early in the process to ensure proper IP management.
Financial benefits from IP commercialization can vary widely depending on factors like market demand and the success of the commercialization effort. Our policies typically ensure that inventors receive a portion of the revenue generated.
Yes, the TTO ensures that all IP-related activities are in compliance with relevant intellectual property laws and university policies.
You can contact the TTO through our website or by reaching out to our team directly via email or phone ([email protected] or 0124204568). We are here to assist you with any questions or concerns related to intellectual property management.
Please note that the answers provided here are general in nature and may vary depending on specific university policies and regulations. It is advisable to consult with the TTO at your university for guidance tailored to your situation.
The content of the respective programmes is released through calls for proposals either once a year or at various stages throughout the year from different work programmes. In the Horizon Europe case, work programmes run over a two-year period. Various calls for proposals are extracted from the work programmes and are released and posted on the Funding and Tenders Portal website of the European Commission. The Horizon Europe, EuropeAid and Eurostars calls are very specific and will only be applicable to certain research groups, whereas some of the Erasmus+ calls are more generic and will, in most cases, be applicable to all faculties.
Programmes are focused primarily on well-established researchers as they are very competitive and strong consortiums are required. However, some Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programmes are open to emerging researchers. Please verify your eligibility and if a consortium is required. Check with the Research Office and state your intention to apply.
Before applying, ensure that you and the country are eligible to apply for the call. Further to this, make sure whether an individual can apply or if it is consortium based. Most of the programmes require consortiums of institutions to apply, with a large group of the members being European institutions or industries. Study the call content to make sure that you understand exactly what the call requires. You may be contacted by EU consortium members to participate in their consortium through established networks. If you do not have consortium members, but have a project idea that fits into a call, the Research Office, together with the Department of Science and Innovation, can assist to identify potential partners.
For most of these programmes, the application process is very lengthy, so it is advisable to start at least four to six months in advance.
With most programmes, a European partner will be the coordinator of the of the research project, although it does not prevent South African institutions from coordinating the project. The coordinator will be responsible for putting together the consortium and preparing the proposal and budget. Further to this, the coordinator will liaise with the consortium members on all administrative and technical aspects before and after the awarding of the grant. The Research Office will provide support with the proposal, budget and administrative aspects of the application, as well as with the grant and consortium agreements when successful.
Each programme requires a unique institutional number when applying. The University is registered on the various EU online sites, and therefore has one institutional number for the different online applications. To obtain the respective number/s when processing an application, please contact DRI.
Costing models and budgets are programme- and call-dependent and will be discussed and developed when the application takes place. For your information, be aware of the fact that most programmes cover 100% direct costs. Indirect costs vary from 7% to 25%, depending on the programme. There are also some calls that will cover only a certain percentage of the requested budget or will cap the funding to a specific amount. The difference will either have to come from the institution or from other sources.
When the application is successful, a grant agreement will have to be signed between the contracting authority, the coordinator and the consortium members. Further to the grant agreement, the consortium members will have to negotiate and sign a consortium agreement between the various members. Agreements will be examined and processed by DRI, as the DRI checklist must be signed by the Innovation and Contracts Management Division, the Principal Investigator, Head of Department, the Dean of the Faculty before the checklist and Agreement is signed by the Vice-Principal who is also the Legal Representative on the EU system.
Copyright © University of Pretoria 2024. All rights reserved.
Virtual Campus
Get Social With Us
Download the UP Mobile App