Research & Enterprise Services (RES)

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Legal Services at RES

The Legal Services Team at RES ensures that the interests of the University and its staff are protected   The team provides the University and individual academic colleagues with a wide range of advice and support on legal matters affecting your academic work.

This includes ensuring that all the projects the University undertakes comply with University polices and any required legal and financial regulations.  The team also prepares and negotiates the content of contracts.  This latter can cover a wide range of topics. For example, in the past year the team has addressed:

  • Research Contracts
  • Studentship Agreements
  • Collaboration Agreements
  • Licencing Agreements
  • Confidentiality Agreements
  • Consultancy Contracts
  • Facilities Agreements
  • Materials Transfer Agreements

All these documents are essential to the smooth running and good management of a successful project.  So, when contemplating a project, please get in touch with RES at an early stage.   We will then be better able to ensure that the administration and management of your project is straightforward, compliant and legal.

Consultancy Opportunities

Derek Brown, our Legal Services Manger, offers some advice to new academic colleagues.

Heriot-Watt offers a wide range of consultancy services to business and industry, including expert witnesses, professional advice, technical analysis and reports, use of laboratory facilities and language translation services.

The University encourages academics to engage in appropriate consultancy work, which can inform your research and teaching.  Many opportunities will arise through your own contacts, publications and meetings with professional colleagues.  Your School will approve and assist you with this process.  However, RES can also help you.

We have regular continuing interaction with national and international companies.  We have ongoing relationships with many organisations, who may approach us seeking assistance with specific technical and business problems or offering specific consultancy opportunities.  RES matches the individuals and companies with academic staff who have the expertise to help solve their problems. 

While your School will manage and administer your project, you should remember that the contract must be developed, prepared and approved on your behalf by the RES Research and Legal Services Team.  This ensures that your contract complies with all legal requirements, that the best price is obtained, and that you and the University are protected.  We ensure that you retain the right to publish and undertake further research.  Remember, individual academics cannot sign a consultancy contract behalf of the University.  So, when presented with a consultancy opportunity, consult us first!

For further information, contact any member of the Legal Services Team.
Derek Brown: D.G.Brown@hw.ac.uk
Jade Ross: J.Ross@hw.ac.uk

Intellectual Property Advice

The University’s intellectual property emerges from the many imaginative projects undertaken by its researchers.  It is a valuable resource, and RES is dedicated to generating the best returns possible for the University and its inventors, either through commercial exploitation or securing further research.
In order to make the most of the University’s knowledge base, we need to protect it carefully and manage it efficiently.

Jade Ross, our Intellectual Property Adviser, manages the University’s Intellectual Property portfolio.  This means that, on a daily basis, Jade meets with RES colleagues and academic staff, advising on Intellectual property issues, assessing patentability, helping us maintain confidentiality and preparing patent and trademark applications.
She also contributes to the development of the University’s Management of IP strategy and plays a leading role in ensuring that we assess, protect and value the University’s knowledge appropriately.
On a day to day level, Intellectual Property issues can play an important part in an academic researcher’s work.

Who owns the IP in a joint project?  If I undertake research based on somebody else’s work, what are the IP implications?  Does a supervisor have IP rights in a PhD student’s work?  Who owns the copyright in a journal article?  How do I canvass interest in my work while still maintaining confidentiality?  The RES Legal Services Team, with Jade’s particular expertise, is happy to give advice on these issues.
Throughout the year, we offer seminars to students and staff on IP issues.  We also maintain up to date copies of the University’s policies on Intellectual Property at:
http://www.RES.hw.ac.uk/Internal/legal/legal_policies&documents.html

For IP advice, contact Jade on J.Ross@hw.ac.uk