Project Proposal Form (.doc)

For more information: Rainer Iraschko,  VP Research t: 403.338.6385

Examples 2005 TRLabs Annual Report Pages 10/11 – TDV Global Page 14 - Vansco Page 17 - Access Communications Co-operative Ltd.

Applied research can be carried out on behalf of industry as either: 1) a pooled research (shared IP) project that leverages TRLabs’ scholarship budget, generates a measure of matching funds to complete the research project, and helps educate a graduate student (scholarship); or 2) as a contract project (negotiable IP) where the degree of matching funds is directly correlated with industry's desired degree of control over direction of the research project, and degree of ownership of resulting IP.

TRLabs is soliciting research proposals from industry partners. Research topics may include but are not limited to: wireless communications; digital media; survivable networks; network modeling and protocols; home technologies; energy management; micro devices; and e-Health. Submitted proposals will be evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis until matching funds have been depleted.

Background

Projects should be of particular interest to industry partners looking to achieve one or more of the following objectives:

• Stimulate R&D in areas of strategic importance to the partner(s)
• Acquire intellectual property (IP) rights
• Accelerate the R&D cycle in the areas of special interest and/or business growth

Projects may involve one or more industry partners. Projects typically vary in size, from small projects with a single researcher to larger projects involving several researchers and, perhaps, sub-projects. The duration of most projects is 4 months to 2 years. All projects have potential to be leveraged by internal and external funding sources. Research project costs include both direct and indirect costs (i.e., overhead). Overhead charges are typically 10-20% of the direct project costs. Total cash and in-kind contributions from all project partners typically comprise 40-80% of the total project cost (up to 100% in specific contract arrangements).

Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise negotiated, all intellectual property arising from research projects will be owned by TRLabs' academic partners (with first rights assigned to TRLabs). Rights to intellectual property will depend on the relative contribution of the research project partner(s). At a minimum, all project partners (pooled research) will be granted:

• world-wide, non-exclusive, royalty-free rights to all intellectual property for evaluation purposes.
• a six-month option to negotiate a royalty-bearing license to the intellectual property.

Contract project partners typically negotiate additional rights to the intellectual property in advance (e.g., non-exclusive, royalty-free rights to use and commercialize). Any additional rights, such as exclusive rights, will be reflected in member cash and in-kind contribution to the research project as set out in a Research Agreement.

Project Initiation
Research projects can be initiated through the submission of a 1-2 page project proposal. This proposal will capture the initial project parameters including a list of participating members, project description and goals, desired timetable and deliverables, and the expected distribution of IP following project completion. This proposal will serve to initiate discussion with TRLabs’ research team, leading to a detailed budget and work plan for projects that are accepted. The project plan, along with the contributions of participants and the other terms and conditions, will be articulated in a separate Research Agreement between TRLabs and the project partner(s).

Reporting
The research will be carried out under the direction and supervision of a TRLabs Project Leader. The Project Leader will have responsibility for the scientific and technical conduct of the work, as outlined in the agreement. Standard project management practices (e.g., status reports, project reviews) will be adopted as required by the project.