Step-by-Step Guide to Academic-Industry Partnerships

A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Successful Academic-Industry Partnerships

Jon D. Duke, MD, MSRegenstrief Institute

January 30, 2013

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Step 1. Know ThyselfStep 2. Know Thy PartnerStep 3. Lay Out the VisionStep 4. Develop the ContractStep 5. Define the InfrastructureStep 6. (Serious) Project PlanningStep 7. Do the WorkStep 8. Review, Articulate, Iterate

Know Thyself

Do you want to partner with Industry?

NIH Funding

Know Thyself

Source: NIH

7+ Years

Photo: NASA Goddard Space Center

Photo: Peter Fleck


+ Funding

+ Speed of Action

+ Breadth of Impact

+ Expertise

+ Cutting Edge Innovation

Academy Industry

The Tenure Track

Source: Open Clip Art LIbrary

Source: US Patent Office


+ Funding

+ Rapid Action

+ Breadth of Impact

+ Expertise

+ Cutting Edge Innovation

- Differing cultures- Some loss of control- Uncertain career benefits- Publication complexities- IP complexities

Know Thyself

What do you have to offer?

Does your work havetranslational potential?

Do you know what they want?

Do they know what they want?

Do they understand theacademic research environment? Photo: Dimitri B

Do they understand theacademic research environment? Photo: Perkins

Do they have realistic expectations for funding?

Do they have realistic expectations for time?

What is the level of commitment?

At what level does that commitment exist?

Three Key Attributes:Respect, Flexibilty, Personability

Ideal Partner

• Experience with academic research• Realistic expectations• High level of commitment at high levels in the

company• Engage as equals• Flexible approach• Personable interactions

Define the drivers for the relationship on both sides

Example Industry Drivers

• Develop intellectual property• Increase sales• Mitigate risks• Gain access to experts• Gain access to data• Public relations benefits

Example Academic Drivers

• Fund one’s work• Novel research• Build infrastructure• Develop IP• Access to experts• Gain insight into industry

Identify common areas that will satisfy drivers on both sides

Be Honest

A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please.

- Mahatma Ghandi

Be Creative

With a breadth of drivers, you may find surprising areas will meet common goals.

Expect Change

Over the course of your collaboration, areas of interest may shift.

The Vision

Fear Not the Lawyers(but be patient)

Is the contractual commitment commensurate with the Vision?

Example Funding Mechanisms

• Up Front Funding• Recurring Funding• Milestone-based Funding• Marketization-based Incentives

How is the Work Defined?

Are IP Issues Addressed?

Are IP Issues Addressed?

• Who will own the IP?• Do you have the ability to make assurances?

– University requirements– Multiple university affiliations

• Involvement of researchers not part of this contract?

• Relationship between IP and publications

Publication Rights

• Ensure freedom to publish• But expect oversight from technical to

‘interpretive’• Build in time for reviews and IP consideration• Shared authorship brings complexity• Recommend a Publication Committee

Steering and Tie Breakers

Expect an Escape Clause(make sure it’s mutual)

keep the lines open

Steering:Guidance, Vision, Approval

Operations:Running the Day-to-Day

Partnership

Multiple Project Teams

Internal Advisory Board

Cross-Cutting Cores

For Large Collaborations

Steering Committee

Operations Committee

OperationsCommittee

Project Team

Project Team

Project Team

Project Team

Project Team

Data Core

Biostatistics Core

Natural Language Processing Core

RI InternalAdvisory

Board

MerckInternal

Processes

P.P.P.P.PP

The Single Most Critical Factor

Idea

a long way

Ensure that everyone who might be interested later is informed now

Project Leads Should Be…

• Genuinely interested and invested in the topic• Collaborative in nature• Aware of the overall partnership vision• Provided sufficient resources (FTE, PM, admin)

Write a Comprehensive Project Plan

• Be explicit about the division of labor in preparing the project plan

• Be aware of any protocol review requirements (e.g., IRB, DRC) up front

• Provide buffer in project execution, recognizing communication challenges

Do both sides still see value in the project that has emerged?

Begin with the End in Mind

Keeping Things on Track

Transparency

Monitor team relations

Avoid Assumptions

If Things Go South…

Review Goals and Plan

Team Changes

Terminate

Step 1. Know ThyselfStep 2. Know Thy PartnerStep 3. Lay Out the VisionStep 4. Develop the ContractStep 5. Define the InfrastructureStep 6. (Serious) Project PlanningStep 7. Do the WorkStep 8. Review, Iterate, Articulate

Review with all participants what worked and what didn’t.

Iterate on your processes.

Articulate the value of your

partnership to your stakeholders.

Help your partner do the same.

1. Know Thyself

2. Know Thy Partner

3. Lay Out the Vision

4. Develop the Contract

5. Define the Infrastructure

6. (Serious) Project Planning

7. Do the Work

8. Review, Iterate, Articulate

Steps to Creating a Successful Academic-Industry Partnership

Questions?

[email protected]

Step-by-Step Guide to Academic-Industry Partnerships

Technology

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