University Policies

The legal framework presently in force at UNiversity of Geneva consists of instituional and national guidelines and laws:

At the institutional level, the ownership of intellectual property and the proceeds from its commercial exploitation belong to the University as specified in la loi de l'Université and of the Statut de l'Université (Art 89).

Several Guidelines validated by the Rectorat give more framework of the rules that are imposed when dealing with private entities:

• Knowledge and Techology Transfer Guidelines​​​​​​
• Technology transfer guidelines for spin-off companies using UNIGE IP
• Intégrité dans la recherche scientifique (in french)
• Signature d'un contrat ou d'un accord au nom de l'Université (in french)¹
• Concluding Collaborative Research Agreements and Service Mandates²
• Financial conflicts of interest policy
• Code of ethics and professional conduct
• Third parties entities
• UNIGE Global Access Principles

¹See also Délégation concernant les MTAs entre partenaires ne poursuivant pas de but lucratif

²The Agreements are dealt by Unitec, Legal Affairs,  Research & Grant Office according to the following Repartition Scheme.

At the national level, la loi fédérale sur la recherche mentions the obligation for the institutions to put in place the needed ressources to valorize the results of the research, in particular their commercial exploitation.

Several professional associations have also published guidelines and general principles applicable to the relationship between the academic and economical partners:

• Guiding Principles of Technology Transfer​​​​​​​  from the American Association of Technology Transfer Managers (AUTM).
• Principles of Technology Transfer at Swiss Universities and Research Institutes​​​​​​​ from the Swiss Technology Transfer Association (swiTT).
• Collaboration between medical professionals and industry​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ from the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences​​​​​​​.