A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) or a Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement (CDA) serves to protect research findings that have not yet been published, especially before filling a patent application. It also helps secure trade secrets of research partners of the Freie Universität Berlin, especially those of corporate partners.

Necessary information for a draft contract:

• name and contact details of the partner
• short description of the communicated information
• short description of the purpose of the information exchange

Non-Disclosure Agreements can be issued both in German and English.

For detailed information click here (available only through Intranet)

• Non-Disclosure Agreements related to study visits of students at external institutions / companies or related to examination purposes will be examined by the legal department of FU Berlin (Rechtsamt).

The exchange of materials (e.g. cell lines, virus strains, proteins, chemical compounds or the like) can lead to setting the ground for further joint research projects. It also provides an advantage to outsource certain research tasks to research partners for optimal research findings on the materials.

Necessary information for a draft:

• Name and contact details of research partner
• Information on the quality and quantity of the transferred materials
• (short) description of the authorized research

Material Transfer Agreements can be issued both in German and English.

Through a Data Usage Agreement research data (such as measurement or statistical data from surveys) can be transmitted to other institutions and enterprises, which may use this data as basis for their own research. On the other hand, Freie Universität Berlin might also have interest in real life data as groundwork for its internal research activities. It is advised to close a Data Usage Agreement prior to any transmission or reception of data.

Necessary information for a draft:

• name and contact details of research partner
• information on the quality and quantity of the transmitted data
• (short) description of the authorized research

Data Usage Agreements can be issued both in German and English.

• For inquiries and questions regarding data protection law, please contact Office of the General Counsel or Chief Data Protection Officer.

Through a donation (grant) Freie Universität Berlin receives financial resources from an external donator with no obligation or duty in return. Divison II - Finances examines in each individual case, whether such grant constitutes a free donation (grant) or a sponsoring which is subject to VAT.

Grant agreements can be issued both in German and English.

In a research cooperation scientists of Freie Universität Berlin are working jointly with external research partners. Each of them assumes a specific and coordinated task and responsibility in the project. Purely financial contributions or payments of one partner for the services of other partners shall not be arranged within a cooperation agreement.

Cooperation agreements can be issued both in German and English.

By way of a Subaward Agreement the grant recipient (initial recipient or grantee) transfers that Grant or a part of it to a research partner (final recipient). This is only possible if the initial recipient is authorized hereto by the grantor, e.g. if the initial recipient alone is in charge of fund management in a cooperation project with multiple partners.

Subaward Agreements can be issued both in German and English.

In projects of contract research the objective of the research is generally specified by its private or public commissioner. Contract researches are fully subject to VAT.

A contract research project is generally fully subject to VAT. The Commissioner bears all subsequent project expenses accrued by the FU Berlin. In addition, a payment in normal market price with extra profit margin is expected in return.
The Team Research Funding and Information (VI C) offers comprehensive counselling regarding the financial aspects of contract researches. As to legal matters please refer to the Team Legal Counsel in Research and Transfer (VI B).  

Contract research agreement can be issued both in German and English.

For detailed information click here (available only through Intranet).