Sign research contracts with industry and other third parties
The Research Contracts Group supports ETH Zurich researchers in relation to research contracts with third parties.
Your contact
ETH Zurich
Research Contracts
HG E 36
Raemistr. 101
8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Tel +41 44 632 07 00
Types of contracts
Research contract
Research contracts regulate ETH Zurich's participation in research projects with third parties. Prior to signing a research contract, the points in the protected page checklist for research contracts must be observed. For a draft contract, please contact the responsible contact person of the Research Contracts Group.
Contracts for scientific services
Service contracts regulate the provision of scientific services by ETH Zurich in the field of research. Prior to signing a service contract, the points in the protected page service contract checklist should be observed. For a draft contract, please contact the responsible staff member of the Research Contracts Group. ETH procurement must be involved in the purchase of services from third parties.
Non-disclosure agreements (NDA, CDA)
Confidentiality agreements (often called "NDA" or "CDA") regulate the confidential treatment and purpose-bound use of information exchanged between the contracting parties. In the preparation for signing an NDA, the points in the protected page NDA checklist must be observed. A template for an NDA can be found in the protected page download area.
Donation and sponsoring
A private or public funder grants an ETH unit a sum of money or an in-kind contribution for research purposes without requesting any thing in return. Donations are often earmarked for a specific research project ("project financing"). A donation may be established by the acceptance of a unilateral letter of grant from the third party.
In the case of sponsorship agreements in the field of research, a sponsor grants ETH Zurich money or monetary benefits in connection with its research. In return, ETH Zurich provides promotion services.
Licensing, option and assignment agreements
Licensing, option or assignment agreements regulate the licensing or assignment of existing ETH Zurich intellectual property rights to third parties, or an option thereon.
Private consulting contracts
Private consulting contracts are a private matter for the service provider and are signed by him in his own private name at his own risk. Download Art. 6 Professorship Ordinance (PDF, 74 KB) (German only) regulates the activities of ETH Zurich professors outside ETH. Please also note the guideline for outside activities of professors of ETH Zurich.
Material Transfer Agreement (please check out protected page MTA guidlines and checklist)
Material Transfer Agreements ("MTA") regulate the rights and obligations regarding the delivery and use of materials, such as cell lines, bacterial strains, plasmids, antibodies or other mostly chemical or biological substances or material samples. In this context, ETH Zurich acts either as supplying or receiving party. An MTA should always be concluded in writing if the delivery or use of the material is linked to certain conditions, such as safety measures that must be taken into special consideration. With the exception of any expenses for the production and delivery of the material, there is usually no cash flow under an MTA. MTAs with academic parties can be signed by the responsible budget officer alone. MTAs with commercial partners additionally require the signature of an employee of ETH transfer IP & Licensing (where ETH provides material), or from the Research Contracts Group, respectively (where ETH receives material). In the case of material deliveries by ETH Zurich to a third party, the MTA of ETH Zurich is generally used (for template please contact Andrea Haag).