Industry Sponsored Institutes
An Industry Sponsored Institute is a research program established, organized, hosted, and directed by UC Berkeley faculty and/or staff and funded by private industry. UC Berkeley has set up many successful Industry Sponsored Institutes.
The Office of Intellectual Property and Industry Research Alliances (IPIRA) works closely with the institute's executive directors and industry sponsors to define the opportunity, negotiate terms, and launch and administer the Institute. IPIRA is part of your team, and we are here to help you.
See guidelines for establishing an ISI.
An Industry Sponsored Institute (ISI or Institute) is established, organized, hosted, and directed by Berkeley faculty and/or staff and funded by private industry. An Institute can include the following features:
- • created through an ISI Master Agreement between UC Berkeley and an industry sponsor with appendices which may include: master sponsored research agreement and a form of task order, intellectual property license terms, lease agreement, and other appendices as relevant
- • managed in the same manner as an organized research unit (ORU) (even if not officially designated as an ORU)
- • focused on a defined area of research
- • research projects are undertaken under the terms of a master sponsored research agreement and research task orders
- • in support of research, the ISI Master Agreement funds provide for university operational and staff support, as well as institute governance; An ISI is more than a master sponsored research agreement
- • lease of UC Berkeley space by a sponsor (negotiated by Real Estate Services and included in the ISI Master Agreement appendix).
- • construction of a space for the institute
A successful, properly structured Industry Sponsored Institute:
- furthers the University’s research mission
- facilitates private funding of public research
- has institute staff, space, and functions beyond research projects
- educates students and provides career opportunities
- enhances feedback from industry to inform academic research
- facilitates the translation and commercialization of UC Berkeley research results
All industry-sponsored agreements (including ISI Master Agreements) are consistent with the following University principles:
- Commitment to Educate Students
- Accessibility for Research Purposes
- Public Benefit
- Informed Participation
- Legal Integrity and Consistency
- Fair Consideration for University Research Results, and
- Objective Decision Making.
