---
title: "Research collaboration contract (Australian IP Toolkit for Collaboration and HERC IP Framework) — use guide"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/intellectual-property-patents-trade-marks-copyright-designs/research-collaboration-contract"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a23-research-collaboration-contract"
area_id: "A23"
kind: "agreement"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-17"
---

# Research collaboration contract (Australian IP Toolkit for Collaboration and HERC IP Framework) — use guide

> Guide to choosing and completing the Government's free collaboration templates: the IP Toolkit model term sheet, model contract and mini contract, and the HERC IP Framework for university collaborations, with updates…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/intellectual-property-patents-trade-marks-copyright-designs/research-collaboration-contract  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-17

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

Guide to choosing and completing the Government's free collaboration templates: the IP Toolkit model term sheet, model contract and mini contract, and the HERC IP Framework for university collaborations, with updates needed since 2015.

## Key facts

- Kind: Agreement. A contract between two or more parties.
- Practice area: [Intellectual Property — Patents, Trade Marks, Copyright, Designs](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/intellectual-property-patents-trade-marks-copyright-designs.md)
- Jurisdictions: Australia
- AI level: Yellow. AI can help in set ways. A lawyer checks specific points before use.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-17
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-17 against the official form at ipaustralia.gov.au and the 6 authorities it cites, for Australia.

## When to use it

Use when a business is funding or collaborating on research with a research organisation or another business and wants a recognised starting template. For university-industry research, start with the HERC IP Framework; for business collaborations, the IP Toolkit. Not suitable unchanged for overseas parties.

## How AI may be used

AI may help mark up the template against the term sheet and list changes since the 2015 base text. The IP ownership model, publication rights and commercial terms are negotiated and settled by the lawyer.

**AI may:**

- Populate Parts 2 and 3 of the model contract from an agreed term sheet and flag any option left unselected.
- Produce a comparison of the firm's marked-up version against the base template.
- List provisions that refer to law as at May 2015 for the lawyer to update.

**AI must not:**

- Must not enter unpublished research data, invention disclosures or confidential project details into a consumer tool.
- Must not choose the Project IP ownership option or the publication regime.
- Must not present the 2015 text as current law without the lawyer's review.

**The lawyer checks:**

- The right template is used for the value and type of collaboration.
- Background IP, Project IP ownership and licences match the commercial deal and each party's policies.
- Provisions referring to law current at May 2015 have been updated.

## Authorities

- [IP Australia, Australian IP Toolkit for Collaboration — Model Contract (September 2015; CC BY 4.0)](https://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/manage-my-ip/how-to-commercialise-my-ip/commercialisation-and-collaboration)
- [Department of Education, Higher Education Research Commercialisation (HERC) IP Framework](https://www.education.gov.au/hercip)
- [Patents Act 1990 (Cth) ss 14, 15, 16 (assignment; who may be granted a patent; co-ownership)](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A04014/latest/text)
- [Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) ss 35, 196 (ownership; assignments and licences)](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C1968A00063/latest/text)
- [Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Sch 2 (Australian Consumer Law) Pt 2-3 (unfair contract terms)](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A00109/latest/text)
- [Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2018 (NHMRC, ARC, Universities Australia)](https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/australian-code-responsible-conduct-research-2018)

## Official form

[Official form](https://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/manage-my-ip/how-to-commercialise-my-ip/commercialisation-and-collaboration)

## Where this comes from

The official form is published by ipaustralia.gov.au; this page is a completion guide. Last checked on 2026-10-17.

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/intellectual-property-patents-trade-marks-copyright-designs/research-collaboration-contract and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*