Industry Affiliates programs

University of Idaho’s Industry Affiliates programs are membership-based consortia that connect companies and other private-sector partners with U of I research groups and faculty. These programs promote the exchange of ideas, ensure research is focused on real-world challenges and help translate discoveries into immediate impact.

U of I Industrial Affiliates programs provide:

  • A formal relationship between industry and U of I faculty, students and researchers
  • Access to ongoing research
  • Access to U of I faculty, students and researchers
  • A forum for interaction with U of I researchers and other industry participants
  • Formal research reviews to be held at least annually
  • A convening authority for important meetings and dialogs
  • A mechanism to influence the directions of U of I’s research
  • Support for specific programs and research areas at U of I

Industrial Affiliates programs do not:

  • Substitute for contract research (contract research is a separate option for targeted research projects that require contract terms)
  • Convey intellectual property to members (IP licenses or transfers can be negotiated separately whether or not interested parties are members of Industrial Affiliates programs)
  • Charge university overhead (all funds, less the applicable university general and administrative fee, are applied to activities of the Industrial Affiliates programs)

Guidelines and procedures

Establishing an Industrial Affiliates programs

New Industrial Affiliates programs must be approved by the associate vice president for Research, Brad Ritts.

Proposals for new Industrial Affiliates programs should be submitted to the associate vice president for Research and should include:

  • A description of the planned subject areas covered by the program
  • A description of the planned activities covered by the program
  • A list of faculty to be affiliated with the program and their prospective roles
  • An identified faculty director who has a tenured or tenure-track faculty appointment
  • A proposed membership fee and justification
  • A description of planned membership benefits
  • A summary of potential members and likelihood of reaching necessary membership thresholds
  • A description of other university resources necessary for startup or operation of the Industrial Affiliates programs, and indication of whether those resources are available or committed
Annual review
  • Continued operation of Industrial Affiliates programs are subject to ongoing approval of the associate vice president for Research, Brad Ritts.
  • All Industrial Affiliate program directors (or their delegates) must attend bi-annual meetings, organized by the Office of Research and Economic Development for Industrial Affiliate program directors and managers.
Membership
  • Membership must be open to any entity that meets membership criteria.
  • All members must be treated equally — benefits offered to any member must be offered to all members.
  • No contracts govern membership. Programs may use a simple form agreement pre-approved by ORED.
  • Membership is to be paid on an annual basis. Programs may not require multi-year commitments (members are free to make or pay multi-year commitments or make supplemental payments to increase support levels, but these payments cannot be required as a condition of participation)
  • All membership fees are non-returnable and non-refundable.
  • No university intellectual property is transferred or licensed through membership in an Industrial Affiliates program.
  • Programs must hold an annual members meeting.
  • Programs must have a website that lists current members, member benefits and any other requirements of the program. Annual invoices and member agreements (if any) should refer to this webpage.
Activities and intellectual property
  • Industrial Affiliates programs primarily enable research and creative activity but may also support education and outreach.
  • All research activities must be open and publishable with no exclusivity for members.
  • Research activities may not have commitments, timelines or deliverables to members.
  • Any activities that require a contract (for example, for specific deliverables, commitments, or payment contingencies) must be executed through the Office of Sponsored Programs and be associated with a contract signed by an authorized signatory of the university. Industrial Affiliates’ member payments or supplemental payments cannot be used to support contract research.  
    • Members of Industrial Affiliates programs are free to pursue sponsored research related to the Industrial Affiliates program; it simply must be contracted and funded through the appropriate pathway.
  • Industrial Affiliates programs are not to be used to avoid facilities and administrative costs (F&A) on sponsored research or otherwise engage in activities that should be classified as sponsored research. Improper use of Industrial Affiliates funding pathways will result in action up to termination of the Industrial Affiliates program or restrictions in program participation.
Treatment of funds
  • Industrial Affiliates membership fees — and any supplemental payments characterized as Industrial Affiliates funds — are subject to the same F&A rate as gifts to the university (currently 5%).
  • Industrial Affiliates’ funds (less F&A charges) are to be transferred to the program for use at the director’s discretion with no accountability to members. Industrial Affiliates funds may be carried forward indefinitely until expended.
  • All expenditures of Industrial Affiliates funds are subject to all normal policies, procedures and financial controls of University of Idaho.