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Research & development
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»Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ works with business, government and community partners to co-design policy and social innovations, develop new products and services, and advance knowledge in specialised fields.
We offer a range of partnership models to support research collaboration across organisations and sectors. Whether you're looking for research expertise, a special piece of equipment, a PhD intern or licensable technology, we can tailor a project to align with your goals and funding requirements.
Partnership models
Tailored collaboration
No two projects are the same. Our bespoke service model means that we can’t anticipate how much your project will cost or how long it will take until it’s fully scoped. The below examples give an indication of how budget, timeframes, complexity and outcomes can vary between projects.
Short-term initiative
Pilot or feasibility study
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Sample objectives
- Assess product or technology performance under specific conditions.
- Evaluate the feasibility of new concepts or solutions.
- Gather community feedback on emerging issues, products or services.
- Develop pilot programs for targeted applications.
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Grant options
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Partner investment range
$10-100K -
Project duration
6-12 months
Medium-term collaboration
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Sample objectives
-ÌýRefine existing technologies for broader market applications.
- Real-world product validation and performance testing.
-ÌýConduct research to assess social or economic impact.
-ÌýEstablish scalable processes for production or deployment.Ìý
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Grant options
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Partner investment range
$50-500K -
Project duration guide
1-2 years
Long-term strategic partnership
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Sample objectives
-ÌýDevelop holistic solutions to address large-scale industry or community challenges.
-ÌýValidate technologies at scale under regulatory requirements.
-ÌýImplement comprehensive research programs with broad societal impact.
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Grant options
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Partner investment range
$500K+ -
Project duration guide
2+ years
Partnership process
From initial discussions to project launch, our partnership process aims to provide clarity, efficiency, and alignment with business goals in the complex university environment.Ìý
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The first step is understanding your needs. Our business development managers will meet with you to explore your challenges, opporunities or requirements and define the scope, and potential outcomes, of a collaboration.
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Our team will help to identify funding schemes relevant to your project and guide you through the application process. Browse grant funding options.
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Once key objectives and funding are established, we work together to compile a detailed project proposal. This includes deliverables, timelines, budgets and anticipated outcomes, ensuring both parties are aligned before we move forward.
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IP terms are negotiated before the project begins and written into your formal Research Services Agreement. »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ hasÌý a dedicated team to assist with structuring fair, transparent agreements in which all legal and commercial aspects are clearly defined. Learn more about IP policies at »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ.
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The research collaboration officially commences when all agreements are in place. We work closely with you to achieve the project’s objectives and provide regular updates and milestone tracking. There is also flexibility to refine the approach if required.
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The project is considered complete once you have received and approved all outlined deliverables. A handover meeting is scheduled to discuss questions and explore re-engagement if further development or new areas of discovery are required.Ìý
As a partner, you can expect
Our FastPASS contracts offer a combination of standard terms with negotiable IP to accelerate kick-off for eligible projects.
Each partnership begins with a detailed project scope, timeline, and objectives to keep goals clear and measurable.
Intellectual property rights and commercialisation terms are designed to deliver value and protect the interests of all parties.
Beyond project completion, partners can join our Innovation Community with exclusive opportunities to attend and exhibit at our events.
FastPASS streamlined contracting
We've created a pre-approved suite of standard agreements to reduce the time and administration associated with research contracting.Ìý
FastPASS agreements accelerate the collaboration process, allowing »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ and partners to start projects and access funds as soon as possible (within one business week, with correct documentation). Although most FastPASS terms are fixed, the IP remains negotiable. It is also possible to engage with »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ via a bespoke research agreement in which all terms are negotiable however, these contracts tend to take longer to execute.
The sample contracts below outline a variety of standard research arrangements. For more information about FastPASS, get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
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»Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ works with partners of all shapes and sizes. Our solutions are scalable, and we can deliver value in small-scale projects e.g. 6 months/$30K matched-funding. One of the benefits of working with »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ is that we can connect you with grant funding. The Commonwealth Government is unlocking research-related capital for businesses through the that gives you bang for your buck. Browse our list of funding opportunities to see which one is right for you.
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At »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ, we are committed to recognising the contributions of our researchers and creating social, economic and environmental impact through the application of our intellectual property. As a research and teaching intensive university, we must also preserve the ability of staff and students to publish, lecture and develop their fieldwork.Ìý
In testing or consulting projects, IP is usually owned by the partner. When »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ researchers develop a new product or method that has commercial benefit for a partner, we generally seek an arrangement in which some of that benefit is shared with us. This is especially true when we contribute significant background intellectual property to a project.
»Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ supports partners to apply for collaborative grant funding. In these cases, we typically own any new IP created from the project and offer the option for partners to commercialise outcomes through a licence or assigment, with terms agreed in advance. For more details, please refer to our IP guide.
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The standard contracting process at »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ is designed to be clear, collaborative, and efficient, ensuring all parties are aligned and protected. Here is an outline of the process:
- Initial discussions: Define the project scope, objectives, and deliverables with your »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ research contact or business development manager (BDM). A confidentiality agreement may be used to facilitate these discussions.
- Proposal development: Draft a detailed project proposal with budget, timeline, and IP considerations.
- Agreement drafting: »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ prepares the necessary legal agreements tailored to the type of collaboration (e.g., contract research, consultancy, grant-funded project).
- Negotiation and review: Both parties review the draft agreements to ensure mutual understanding and consensus on key terms.
- Approval process: »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ and the partner complete internal approval workflows for institutional and legal compliance.
- Contract execution: Once approved, the agreements are signed by both parties, marking the official start of the partnership.
Refer to the sample Research Services Agreement and Mutual/Multi-Party Confidentiality Agreement for more details.
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Unfortunately, the scale of »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ research means that we can't assign a project manager to all partners.
Most of our partners connect directly with »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ researchers to initiate and conduct projects. If you work with the »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Industry & Innovation team, you’ll be assigned a dedicated business development manager (BDM). Your BDM will guide the project kickoff, help match you with the right research teams and oversee IP and contract negotiations.
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A partner is paired with a research team based on:
- Alignment of technical and domain-specific expertise
- Availability
- Shared vision and project goals
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If the relationship between the partner and the research team doesn’t work as expected, we have a set of protocols to address issues early in the process.
Initially, we assess the underlying cause, whether it be differences in communication style, conflicting priorities, or unforeseen challenges in collaboration.
Based on this assessment, we work on realignment strategies, including refining project goals, adjusting roles and responsibilities, or enhancing communication channels to better support the partnership.
If these measures do not resolve the issues, we collaboratively explore other options such as research team reassignment (with consideration of statutory notice periods) and contract renegotiation. Our priorities are to maintain research integrity, progress your project and meet contract obligations.
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At the final project handover stage, we organise:
- Comprehensive documentation: We compile detailed documentation, including project reports, technical specifications and any relevant datasets outlined in the Research Services Agreement.
- Handover meeting: A handover meeting is held to address any final questions, confirm receipt of deliverables, and discuss the next steps, including potential future collaborations.
- Ongoing support: Depending on the agreement, we may offer post-project support, such as follow-up consultations or assistance with scaling and commercialisation efforts.
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Yes, »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ has a suite of FastPASS standard agreements designed to accelerate project kick-off. Most terms are pre-determined but the IP is negotiable.
- Research Services Agreement
- One-Way Confidentiality Agreement (»Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Discloser)
- One-Way Confidentiality Agreement (»Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Recipient)
- Mutual / Multi-party Confidentiality Agreement (»Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Recipient & Discloser)
- Data Access & Use Agreement
- Material Transfer Agreement (»Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Recipient)
- Material Transfer Agreement (»Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Provider)
- Subcontract Agreement
- Student Project & Placement Agreement (Funded Research)
- Consulting Services Agreement