Below you will find information about contracts that applies to Nord University.
Legal protection
Contracts provide a legal framework that protects the rights and interests of all parties involved in the research project. They outline the terms and conditions of the collaboration, including ownership of intellectual property, confidentiality, liability, and dispute resolution mechanisms. By clearly defining these aspects, contracts help mitigate potential conflicts and ensure that everyone's rights and obligations are well-defined.
Funding and resources
Research projects often require substantial funding and resources, including equipment, materials, and personnel. Contracts outline the financial arrangements between the university and external funding sources or collaborators. They specify the funding obligations, budget allocation, payment terms, and any financial reporting requirements. These provisions ensure transparency and accountability in the use of resources.
Intellectual Property Rights
Research projects often generate valuable intellectual property (IP) in the form of inventions, discoveries, or creative works. Contracts establish ownership and licensing rights for the IP generated during the project. This is particularly important when collaborating with external organizations or when research is funded by industry partners. Clear IP provisions protect the interests of the university, researchers, and sponsors, allowing for the appropriate commercialization or dissemination of research outcomes.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
Research projects may involve sensitive information, proprietary data, or personal data subject to privacy regulations. Contracts include provisions for confidentiality and data protection to ensure that confidential information is handled securely and only shared with authorized parties. These provisions protect the privacy of participants, maintain the integrity of research data, and safeguard the interests of all stakeholders.
Compliance and Ethical Considerations
Research projects must adhere to ethical guidelines, regulatory requirements, and institutional policies. Contracts outline the responsibilities of all parties involved in ensuring compliance with these obligations. They may include provisions related to human subject research, animal welfare, biosafety, ethical conduct, and regulatory approvals. By formalizing these commitments, contracts contribute to maintaining the integrity and ethical standards of the research project. Read more about research ethics here.
Collaboration and Expectations
Contracts establish the expectations, roles, and responsibilities of all parties involved in the research project. They define project milestones, deliverables, and timelines, ensuring clarity and alignment among collaborators. Contracts foster effective communication, facilitate coordination, and provide a framework for monitoring and evaluating the progress of the research project.
Overall, contracts play a very important role in protecting the rights, resources, and interests of all parties involved in research projects at universities. They provide a legal and operational framework that promotes transparency, collaboration, compliance, and effective management of the project from inception to completion.
Contract templates
All research collaboration must be based on written contracts.
Below there is a list of contract templates and as a general rule Nord should use those templates when applicable.
If you are not sure what type of contract is applicable in your case, please contact us.
A Letter of Intent (LOI) is a document used to express one party's intention to enter into a formal agreement or partnership with another party. In the context of a university, an LOI can be used to initiate discussions and negotiations before formalizing a more detailed agreement.
Who can sign:
Central administration level: Rector or the director/pro-rector authorized to do so.
Faculty level: Dean or the dean’s authorised representative.
The yellow highlighted areas indicate a need to fill in relevant information.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is an agreement between two or more parties that outlines their intentions to work together on a specific project, initiative, or goal. The MOU can be seen as the starting point for negotiations as it defines the scope and purpose of the talks, and can act as an umbrella for more specific agreements on research or educational cooperation. Such memoranda are most often seen in international relations.
Who can sign:
Central administration level: Rector or the director/pro-rector authorized to do so.
Faculty level: Dean or the dean’s authorised representative.
The yellow highlighted areas indicate a need to fill in relevant information
A Collaboration Agreement is a formal document used to establish a structured and detailed partnership between two or more entities, such as universities or educational institutions. This agreement outlines the terms, responsibilities, and expectations for the collaborative effort.
Who can sign:
Central administration level: Rector or the director/pro-rector authorized to do so.
Faculty level: Dean or the dean’s authorised representative.
The yellow highlighted areas indicate a need to fill in relevant information
A Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), also known as a Confidentiality Agreement, is a legal contract used to protect sensitive information shared between parties. This type of agreement is especially important when universities collaborate with external entities, such as companies, research partners, or other institutions, and need to share proprietary or confidential information
Who can sign:
Central administration level: Rector or the director/pro-rector authorized to do so.
Faculty level: Dean or the dean’s authorised representative.
The yellow highlighted areas indicate a need to fill in relevant information
A One-Way Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is a legal contract used when one party (the disclosing party) shares confidential information with another party (the receiving party) and wants to ensure that the receiving party does not disclose or misuse the confidential information.
Who can sign:
Central administration level: Rector or the director/pro-rector authorized to do so.
Faculty level: Dean or the dean’s authorised representative.
The yellow highlighted areas indicate a need to fill in relevant information
Reviewing of the contract
When the project manager and the funder agree on the contract design, and the contract is ready for signing, the project owner must ensure that the process leading up to the final contract proposal has been followed and that the academic and financial framework still aligns with the unit's academic profile/areas of focus.
Among other things, the project owner must ensure that:
- All attachments to the contract are in their final form.
- The project economist has been involved in the budget preparation.
- The internal resources included in the project plan are available during the project period.
- Aspects such as privacy, intellectual property rights (IPR), data management plans, etc. (as specified in the call for proposals and specific requirements from Nord University) are addressed in the contract.
- If you have questions, require legal assessment of the agreement or need help drafting the contract, please contact Research and Development Division (AFU).
If the project owner wishes to have elaborations/changes in the contract before signing, it is sent back to the project manager with a description of what needs to be modified.
If everything is in order, the project owner can sign the contract.
Power of attorney - Who can sign a contract on behalf of Nord University
When the contract has been reviewed and approved by the project owner, the contract can be signed.
It is the project owner who signs the contract. The project owner is:
- At the faculty level: Dean or the dean's authorized representative.
- At the central administration level: Rector or the director/pro-rector authorized to do so.
If authorization is granted, this delegation must be in writing, in accordance with the delegation regulations (Intranett).
If the contract relates to a research project that has been granted by the EU funds, the rector or the rector's authorized representative should also sign in addition to the project owner.
Contracts of particular overarching strategic significance must be submitted to the Board of Nord University for approval before signing.
Once the contract is signed, project manager sends the contract to the funder, with a copy to the faculty administration.
Privacy in research
Privacy protection in research projects is of utmost importance to ensure the confidentiality, security, and ethical handling of personal information or sensitive data collected from research participants. Here you can find more information about Privacy in research.
Applicable laws and regulations
Nord University is obliged to follow:
Regulations governing management of intellectual property at Nord University (pdf)
Reglement om statlige universiteter og høyskolers forpliktende samarbeid og erverv av aksjer (pdf).
