Step 1. Getting started / Preparation

• Each research contract requires a person to be responsible for coordinating the process. Through the process the checklist for research contracts can be used, which is available in Swedish and in English.
• This person can be the PI or in some cases a specifically appointed person/function at the department - always contact your department administration to identify the responsible person. If there is a conflict of interest with the counterparty, another person can be assigned by the Head of Department.
• The Contract process coordinator should for example organise communication between all parties internally and externally, and can throughout the process get support from different support functions at KI.
• The Head of Department and in some cases the Head of Administration should review the contract and decide if the contract also needs to be reviewed by the Legal unit. 

• Identify Principal Investigator and researchers involved (affiliated, consultants, students, PhD students)
• 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. A general principle is that KI will not have contracts with companies in which the KI employees have significant responsibility or influence.
  • Read Rules for handling secondary occupations and Guidelines on conflict of interest (COI)

At your department:

• Discuss the collaboration plans with your Head of Department and/or Head of Administration
• The Head of Department will be the one approving the contract based on the recommendations by the Legal unit at KI
• If necessary, the Head of Department or Head of Administration can initiate a support case at External Engagement Office to get support in the contract preparation process.