Review PoliciesIndustry's Process of Collaboration with the University of Maryland
Review Policies
Intellectual Property
The University of Maryland policy on intellectual property is to
assure that the benefits of University research and scholarship, which include
intellectual property, are fairly and fully disseminated to benefit the
public; create an environment that encourages and recognizes the creative
efforts of faculty, students and personnel; and generate resources to support
the University’s primary mission.
Conflict of Interest
Conflict of Commitment
Conflict of interest typically involves potential financial gain or personal benefit to an employee or related individuals.
Conflict of commitment typically arises when otherwise positive activities may compromise the fulfillment of an employee's basic job
responsibilities to the University.
The intent of this policy is, in part, to provide guidance that will enable extra-university liaisons, such as scholars, artists,
consultants, participants in research and development ventures, advisors to government entities, and in other capacities that relate
to their professional expertise, to continue while avoiding situations that could harm the individual and/or the University through
the reality or perception of ethical, legal, or financial conflicts. Although such conflicts may arise most often in connection with
outside activities, the policy and the procedures relating to them apply to internal activities as well.
Export Control
Information about Export Control and how the University of Maryland and the Office of Research Administration and Advancement
deal with export control issues can be found here.
Licensing
It is the university's responsibility to bring into public use any commercially applicable discovery made
in its laboratories and to ensure that discoveries are properly protected and pursued to full development.
While patents are intended to promote progress and serve the public, patents and technology transfer also
benefit inventors and the university through recognition and monetary returns. A major objective of the
Office of Technology Commercialization is to strive to match campus inventions with potential sponsors or
licensees. Income from up-front payments, purchases of tangible research property, option fees, license fees
and royalties negotiated with the university are distributed according to a formula defined in the
University of Maryland Patent Policy.
Material Transfer
A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) is a contract that governs the transfer of tangible research materials
between two organizations, when the recipient intends to use it for his or her own research purposes, and
when no research collaboration between scientists is planned. The MTA defines the rights of the provider and
the recipient with respect to the materials and any derivatives. Biological materials, such as reagents,
cell lines, plasmids, and vectors, are the most frequently transferred materials, but MTAs may also be used
for other types of materials, such as chemical compounds and even some types of software.
