Venture capital firms can fund research at UC Berkeley that may lead to intellectual property (IP), which a VC-designated startup company (a NewCo) can license. There are several approaches for structuring this kind of collaboration.
To discuss VC-funded sponsored research opportunities, contact:
Eric Giegerich
Intellectual Property and Industry Research Alliances Office
egiegerich@berkeley.edu
VC-Sponsored Research
A VC can establish a Sponsored Research Agreement with UC Berkeley that reserves IP rights for potential VC NewCos. While the VC itself does not license or commercialize IP, its NewCos have standing to do so.
How it Works
- Set up the agreement. UC Berkeley and the VC negotiate an agreement to fund a specific research project—or a master agreement covering multiple projects and labs.
- Reserve IP rights. The agreement specifies that a NewCo—either existing or to be formed—may license IP resulting from the funded research.
- Select projects. The VC reviews research proposals from UC Berkeley principal investigators (PIs) and decides which to fund.
- Conduct the research. The funded UC Berkeley labs carry out the work under the PI’s direction. The VC may advise the lab as appropriate.
- Disclose and manage IP. PIs disclose any resulting IP to UC Berkeley’s Office of Technology Licensing (OTL). OTL notifies the VC of new disclosures.
- License to a NewCo. The VC identifies a NewCo to negotiate a commercial license under the reserved rights. The NewCo then develops products or services based on the IP.
Note: The VC, PI, or researchers in the PI’s lab may also enter separate agreements related to the NewCo (e.g., consulting, advisory board participation, or management roles). All such activities must comply with UC Berkeley’s Outside Activities policy.
Example: Incubator Program at the Innovative Genomics Institute
VC-Sponsored Institute
For VCs interested in advancing an entire field of research, the agreement can establish or fund a UC Berkeley institute.
A joint VC-UC Berkeley steering committee may:
- issue calls for research proposals
- allocate funding
- manage projects and deliverables
- deliver results
- promote the research theme
- support discovery grants and fellowships
Example: Center for CRISPR Target Discovery
VC Gift-Funded Research
If a VC wishes to support UC Berkeley research without requiring IP rights, it may instead make a philanthropic gift to fund a project.
To explore this option, contact Foundation Relations and Corporate Philanthropy (UDAR).