Sending or Receiving Material
When transferring materials into or outside of KU, a material transfer agreement (MTA) document is necessary. The first step is to fill out an inbound or outbound material transfer questionnaire. Email the completed questionnaire to indcontracts@ku.edu and we will contact you if we need more information and to let you know when the agreement is executed. If you are receiving research material and have been sent a draft material transfer agreement by the provider of the material, please send that document along with your completed questionnaire.
There are three main types of MTA agreements:
- Transfer between academic/research institutions
- Transfers from academia to industry
- Transfer from industry to academia
Innovation and collaboration is fundamental to KU’s global outreach. US and international laws governing technology transfers are complex and impact patent applications, licensing, and research agreements We are committed to complying with all laws and regulations that govern our international activities including those foreign visitors and employees who work and participate in projects on all KU campuses. KUCTC works closely with the General Counsel’s Office and Export-Import control team. To ensure compliance, investigators, entrepreneurs, and future CEOs are encouraged to use their services early in project development.
General Counsel's Office
Kimberly Grunewald
785-864-3276
kgrunewald@ku.edu
Export Controls
Matthew Battiston
785-864-1811
mmbattiston@ku.edu
KUCTC is committed to reviewing and processing each Material Transfer Agreement as quickly as possible. We will keep you updated on the status of the MTA and our office is always available to answer any questions you might have. The turnaround time on an MTA varies greatly. Each company or institution providing the materials is different and the time from start to finish depends greatly on the type of MTA as well as the response from the provider. Some agreements can be turned around in a matter of days while others can take several weeks or months. The best way to assure that your MTA is processed as quickly as possible is to make the request as early as possible along with any additional approvals or forms that might be needed.
MTAs address several important issues: publication rights, liability of both the sender and the recipient, who will own intellectual property developed from the materials and any limits on the use of the material. Negotiating and reaching an agreement on the MTA can help avoid later issues and preserve the collaborative nature of the research.
Kansas University Center for Technology Transfer is designated as the office to negotiate MTAs on behalf of KU and the KU Medical Center. Each campus has a designated administrative official who signs on behalf of KU or KUMC. MTAs are binding, legal documents that could have legal penalties for violations of the terms. Researchers are not designated as signatories to MTAs because the MTA is done in the name of the University and Researchers are not authorized to sign on behalf of KU or KUMC.
- KU Lawrence
- Kansas Board of Regents (see page 29)
