Research and Development (R&D) is a key ‘factor of production’ in the global business environment and yet there can be no doubt that research budgets are under attack as never before. International competitive pressure means that companies, and countries, must innovate or die even though funding is often decreasing. The answer to this dichotomy is to ensure better value for money - and this toolkit will lead you towards that goal.
The Outsourcing R&D Toolkit comprehensively covers the strategic and tactical issues necessary for a company to decide whether, and to what extent, to buy in their knowledge-based services. Having done this it then goes on to provide a toolbox of commercial materials to enable better control of external R&D projects. It consists of two main Parts:
• Part I: Buying Research Services - this provides an up-to-date briefing on contract R&D, practices, procedures and pitfalls. It includes 70+ learning points which highlight issues particularly important to companies buying-in R&D services.
• Part II: Contract Research Toolbox of template contract and contract management documents including instructions for use: these materials are subtly tailored to the commercial interests of the knowledge buyer and form a contracting system in their own right. They may also be used to benchmark existing company practices and procedures.
Buying in R&D services is undoubtedly the way of the future and a core management competence across all industrial sectors. The Outsourcing R&D Toolkit will stop you from being left behind!
Reviews
'The 10 chapters ... assemble a wealth of common sense in a readily accessible, well written format free of the pedantic "Spot the Dog" case histories normally associated with monographs of this type. While the author uses examples from the pharmaceutical industry, his broad experience with other high tech industries adds considerable extra value to what is a generic process ... Overall, Mr Sammons has provided a very worthwhile, well designed addition to the business literature that should be on the shelf of each and every technology transfer person involved in the process of research contract initiation and negotiation. The $250 price is modest - if not negligible - if not totally irrelevant - if it facilitates by even 1 day the process of reaching an executable contract in a timeframe where the negotiators can still remember why the topic of their negotiations was of import in the first place.' Drug Development Research (USA), November 2000
Contents
Part I Buying Research Services: Global technological R&D; Strategy issues in purchasing R&D services; R&D and intellectual property rights; R&D networking; Alternatives to contract research; How to buy research; Working with universities; Critical success factors; Industrial espionage; The 'shape' of a typical R&D contract.
Part II Contract Research Toolbox: Instructions for use of template documents; Confidentiality agreement (pre-tender); Invitation to tender - letter; Instructions to tenderers; Form of tender;
Appendix A - Breakdown of tender price; Appendix B - Rates and prices; Appendix C - Programme; Appendix D - Confidentiality agreement (tender); Conditions of contract for research development services; University contract draft and covering letter; Standard R&D contract letter; Unsuccessful tender - Decline letter; Project memo; Contract variation - Letter; Confirmation of discharge of contract - Letter; Vendor evaluation checklist (use by visiting group); Confidentiality agreement (third party sends information to us); Confidentiality agreement (third party hands information to us at meeting); Confidentiality agreement (we send information to third party); Confidentiality agreement (we hand information to third party at meeting); Request for reference - Letter; Confirmation of satisfactory completion of assessment - Letter; Contract closeout checklist; Appendix: Results of 1998 Contract Research Survey.
About the Author
Director of Buy Research Ltd, a consultancy providing procurement support to organizations buying high-tech goods and services, Peter Sammons has worked in a number of technology-based industries, both public and private sector. A Member of the UK Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, Peter has contributed articles to various publications on subjects as diverse as aviation history, procurement of specialist services and combating business corruption. His particular interest is the increasingly important task of 'buying knowledge'.
