Member Login - Account - Logout

Science and Technology Australia
  • Home
  • About STA
    • About Us
    • Executive and governance
    • Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Policy Vision
    • Policy Wins
    • Work for us
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Submissions, reports and publications
    • 2025 STA Federal Election Priorities
  • Our Programs
    • Science Meets Parliament
    • Superstars of STEM
    • Super STEM workshops
    • STEM Ambassadors
    • Parliamentary Friends of Science
    • Science Policy Fellows Alumni
  • STA Membership
    • STA Membership
    • Our Members
    • Member How-to Guides
    • Login to member portal
    • Register for member portal
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About STA
    • About Us
    • Executive and governance
    • Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Policy Vision
    • Policy Wins
    • Work for us
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Submissions, reports and publications
    • 2025 STA Federal Election Priorities
  • Our Programs
    • Science Meets Parliament
    • Superstars of STEM
    • Super STEM workshops
    • STEM Ambassadors
    • Parliamentary Friends of Science
    • Science Policy Fellows Alumni
  • STA Membership
    • STA Membership
    • Our Members
    • Member How-to Guides
    • Login to member portal
    • Register for member portal
  • Contact
20 October 2021

Malleable, not mandatory: simpler IP agreements

Image by Edar on Pixabay.
Image by Edar on Pixabay.

Universities and industry need a flexible guiding intellectual property framework to propel further commercialisation, not the handbrake of mandatory one-size-fits-all templates, the nation’s peak body for science and technology has said.

In its submission to the University Research Commercialisation Scheme Working Group, Science & Technology Australia has called for proposed new standard IP templates to retain crucial flexibility to negotiate variations.

While welcoming moves to make it easier for industry and researchers to collaborate, STA has cautioned strongly against adopting a rigid mandatory framework.

“Negotiating IP agreements can be complex and time consuming – so having standard templates as a guide to start that process is helpful,” said STA Chief Executive Officer Misha Schubert.

“But that shouldn’t tie the hands of the parties and strip them of the freedom to negotiate variations that suit them – a one-size-fits-all template won’t be right for every commercial situation.”

“Just as with employment contracts, there will often be cases where both parties want to start with a standard contract but vary some of the terms.” 

“Governments shouldn’t be tying the hands of the parties by making a standard agreement mandatory – sensible flexibility should be kept.” 

The Fair Work Commission produces standard employment contracts as a resource, but employers and employees can vary the terms to suit their business and personal circumstances, so long as the minimum legal employment standards are met. 

“Used in a non-mandatory way, an IP framework and templates could simplify and speed up the process for researchers and universities, and encourage industry to commercialise more great Australian ideas and innovations.”

Other key recommendations from STA’s submission include:

  • Include a simple-language explanation outlining the reason and effect of contract clauses with the template to assist industry partners, plus offer webinars to build skills and knowledge on effective research translation.
  • Develop a robust IP Assignment Deed for PhD students.
  • Offer indicative average royalty figures to assist both industry and universities to arrive at a fair arrangement quickly.

The full submission is available here.

Share
intellectual property IP research commercialisation submission submissions
Previous StoryThree impressive senior STEM leaders appointed to the STA Board
Next StoryElection 2022: Bold R&D investment key to jobs and growth

Related Articles

  • National Science & Research Priorities
    Science statement can inspire culture change
  • IMG_7949
    Mark Hutchinson: National Press Club Address

ABOUT US

Science & Technology Australia (STA) is Australia’s peak body in science and technology. We represent more than 235,000 scientists, engineers and technologists. STA is an influential voice for evidence and expertise in public policy.

Recent news

  • Congratulations to STA President Sharath Sriram – new Chief Scientist of Western Australia
  • Nominations open: Join an STA Committee or the new Friends of the Chair initiative.
  • Congratulations Labor – now let’s build an Australia powered by Australian ideas

Our members

  • All Members
  • Agricultural and Food Sciences
  • Aquatic Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemical Sciences
  • General Science and Technology
  • Geographical and Geological Sciences
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Medical and Cognitive Sciences
  • Physical Sciences
  • Plant and Ecological Sciences
  • Technological Sciences

Search for news

Most popular

  • Budget 2025: R&D the answer to Australia’s seismic challenges
  • Congratulations Labor – now let’s build an Australia powered by Australian ideas
  • R&D investment a sure bet on the future
  • Congratulations to STA President Sharath Sriram – new Chief Scientist of Western Australia
  • Nominations open: Join an STA Committee or the new Friends of the Chair initiative.

Sign up to our newsletter

Science and Technology Australia Limited (STA) (ACN 664 679 056 and ABN 71 626 822 845) is a company limited by guarantee. STA was formerly known as Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies Inc and was authorised under section 82 of the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 (ACT) to transfer its registration under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to its new company structure on 3 January 2023.

STA PRIVACY POLICY

OTHER STA POLICIES

ACNC Registered Charity Logo

Copyright © 2024 Science & Technology Australia. All Rights Reserved