IJE/IBJ webinar - ‘Collaboration Agreements’. The challenge of reconciling the interests and rights of all the parties concerned: Some Tips & Tricks

The time when R&D activities were undertaken exclusively within the company is long behind us. ‘Open Innovation’ is not a buzzword any more. R&D for new products and technologies has become more and more complex, and the need to exchange knowledge in order to progress has only increased as a result. Nor is collaboration and knowledge sharing a matter simply for companies amongst themselves. It is also, and primarily, a matter between companies and knowledge centres (such as universities and other research institutions). In addition, external financing is sometimes required in the early stages, to bridge the costs related to the R&D activities.

All this implies not only a trusted relationship between the parties concerned, but also that the collaboration is contractually clearly determined. The negotiation and drafting of these collaboration agreements should be undertaken judiciously and expertly, and all the interests and rights of the different parties must be taken into account. Finding the correct balance is extremely important.

In this session, business, research and financing experts will share their experiences and concerns and put these challenges into a legal context. This webinar will be presented in Dutch and French. 

Speakers:

• Joke Willems – Head Legal Department at KU Leuven Research & Development
• Jean Van Nuwenborg – Managing Partner Qbic Venture Partners
• Marc Lefèbvre – Head Project Portfolio Management SESVanderHave
• Gunther Meyer – Senior Counsel Crowell & Moring LLP (Brussels)