Research Collaboration
Collaborate with UW–Madison to accelerate R&D
A research collaboration with UW–Madison connects your organization with leading researchers to explore questions, develop new capabilities, and advance innovation. OBE works with you to understand your goals, shape the right project, and support the partnership at every stage.
What is research collaboration?
Projects can range from early-stage exploration to applied development and validation, with scope and deliverables defined in partnership with UW researchers.
How does research collaboration work?
Start with your goals.
Tell us what challenge you need to solve, your timeline, and what success looks like.
Connect with the right experts.
OBE connects you with researchers, labs, and campus resources aligned with your needs.
Agree on project scope.
We’ll work together to align on approach, milestones, deliverables, and budget.
Finalize the agreement and begin.
We help guide the contracting process so the project can launch smoothly.
Already have a UW–Madison researcher in mind?
OBE can help you take the next step.
Success Stories
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I start if I’m new to UW–Madison?
Start with OBE. Tell us what you’re trying to solve, your timeline, and what success looks like. We’ll help you identify the right researchers, labs, and partnership pathway and guide next steps from first conversation through to signed agreement.
I already have a UW–Madison researcher in mind. Can I work with them directly?
Yes. You can contact the researcher to start the conversation. If you’d like support, OBE can help align on scope, identify any additional campus resources, and guide the project through the right contracting process.
How can I save time in this process?
Starting with standard UW–Madison templates can reduce the time it takes to execute an agreement. Download them in Microsoft Word format:
- Confidential Disclosure Agreement
- Funded Standard Research Agreement – Detailed IP Note: depending on the project, a simple IP agreement may be possible.
- Material Transfer Agreement – Simple
- Services Agreement
Please contact us if you are looking for other templates. Are the above links not working? Get the latest version of these forms from Research & Sponsored Programs.
Do we need a confidentiality agreement (CDA) before we talk?
Sometimes, but not always. Many initial conversations can happen at a high level without sharing proprietary details. If a CDA is needed, OBE can help route the right agreement through the appropriate campus contacts so you can move forward with confidence.
What’s the difference between sponsored research and fee-for-service?
Sponsored research is a collaborative project shaped by a UW–Madison researcher’s intellectual contribution, often with defined scope, milestones, and deliverables. It may result in publishable findings or inventions created during the work.
Fee-for-service is a defined service or testing relationship, where UW staff perform routine or repeatable work and deliver data or results based on sponsor instructions.
If you’re not sure which model fits, OBE can help you determine the best pathway early.
Ready to explore a project?
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll help you with next steps.