Step 1. Preparation
Funders and collaborators usually require a contract for a research project, which defines respective rights, obligations, timelines and budget. Firstly, you need to identify a collaborative partner or funding body, assess any risks and understand what type of agreement is important in your case.

- Identify what should be included in your contract and why
- Identify appropriate type of collaboration and agreement
- Discuss risks in choice of collaborative partner or financing organisation:
- Is the collaborator appropriate?
- Companies in which researchers have interests might have weak economies and thus unstable legal system
- Identify potential conflicts of interest:
- Be aware of any possible situations of conflict of interest
- KI shall not as a main rule enter into contracts with companies in which employees of KI have operative influence
- Read Rules for handling secondary occupations and Guidelines on conflict of interest (COI)
- Identify Principal Investigator and researchers involved (affiliated, consultants, students, PhD students)