General Principles

To support the achievement of our scientific research goals we continue to seek and earn financial sponsorship in various forms. Sponsorship of the Institute’s research activities has great benefits for both the Institute and the sponsoring organisation.

In order to ensure that the scientific integrity of the Institute’s research activities is both maintained and seen to be maintained, we have drafted a set of general principles to guide us in our management of sponsorship. These principles will help us to preserve and protect the freedom of research conducted within the Institute.

The general principles that we follow in respect of sponsorship are the following:

• Any sponsorship must produce significant benefit for IMDEA Networks within its agreed strategic goals and objectives, and without detriment to the wider public interest.
• This benefit must outweigh any reputational or business risk for IMDEA Networks through being associated with the sponsor.
• Sponsorship must always be consistent with IMDEA Network’s ethical policy.
• IMDEA Networks will not endorse or give preference to sponsor products. Nor will IMDEA Networks give any competitive advantage to any sponsor.
• All research projects must be undertaken with the clear understanding that the researchers concerned have the full right to publish any results obtained by them, subject only to established safeguards for the protection of privacy or confidentiality of personal data sponsors the option to bar specific individuals or groups.
• All intellectual property rights stemming from the sponsored activity, whether anticipated or not, remain the property of IMDEA Networks, unless there is an explicit agreement to the contrary in the original sponsorship document.
• In general, we do not agree to exclusivity clauses that grant any special or exclusive information to a research sponsor.
• Participants in research projects shall be selected by the Institute’s Director in accordance with the Institute’s policy based on professional criteria.
• Research agreements may neither bar nor give contrary in the original sponsorship document.
• IMDEA Network’s work, and its key messages, should not be influenced or contradicted by the sponsor. Any statement by the sponsor about its relationship with IMDEA Networks, or use of IMDEA Networks logos/brands in sponsor advertising, or publications showing images relating to IMDEA Networks, must be explicitly approved by IMDEA Networks. This requirement should be spelt out in the sponsorship agreement.