Materials transfer agreements are agreements between researchers, other scientist(s), and their respective institutions. A material transfer agreement allows researchers to share research materials, such as a cell line, plant germplasm, a chemical compound or a polymer with another scientist for research purposes, while protecting the intellectual property rights to the materials.
A material transfer agreement, signed by the University, must always be in place before a Principal Investigator at a PASSHE University receives material from an outside source or, in some cases, sends it to an outside source.
The terms and conditions of a material transfer agreement for receipt of material from an outside source are generally defined by three parameters:
· The organizational characteristics of the material provider
· The actual or potential value of the material to the provider
· The source of funding that will support the work with the material
The parameters are reflected in the following scenarios:
· Material Incoming from an Educational or Non-Profit Organization
· Material Incoming from a For-Profit Entity
· Material Incoming from the U.S. Government
· Outgoing Material Transfers
· “Shrink-wrap” or “Zip-lock” Material Transfer Agreement
The language that is generally acceptable to PASSHE in a materials transfer agreement that does not use the Simple Material Transfer Agreement is contained in the Incoming Material Transfer Agreement Standard Terms and Conditions.