Before you set out on a collaboration with a company, it can be a really good idea to sign a written agreement, in which you set out the scope of the project. Remember to get your project supervisor at AAU to approve the agreement as well in order to make sure that the project is relevant for your programme and meet the requirements of the curriculum.

The collaboration agreement deals with the academic contents and should not be mistaken for a non-disclosure and rights agreement (see below).

Remember, that the purpose of the project is also that you have to take an exam. The company might have some wishes that you will not be able to grant within the scope of your project. Here, you might have to stick to a content that matches the requirements of your curriculum.

A good collaboration agreement can help ensure, that you will not end up in this situation. Even though your supervisor is not obliged to interfere in potential conflicts or misunderstandings between your group and the company, she/he can be a help in such situations.

If there is a need to enter into a formal cooperation agreement, you can use AAU's nondisclosure and rights agreement.

If the project is confidential, it can be a good idea to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

AAU's template for non-disclosure agreement

The non-disclosure and rights agreement should be made, for instance, if you invent a new product in connection to your project.

Therefore, it is not necessary in the majority of cases.

It is not a requirement that there has to be a signed a non-disclosure and rights agreement in connection to a student project. However, it is always a good idea to match expectations about the use of confidential material and property rights for the project results BEFORE the work is begun.

Generally, it is the company who will require a non-disclosure and rights agreement to be signed in connection to the project. As a student, you can decide for yourself what terms you are willing to accept in such an agreement.

AAU's template for Non-disclosure and rights agreement for student project

• Remember, that the main goal is your exam!
• Remember, that you and the company do not necessarily share the same interests
• Be absolutely sure that you understand the terms and consequences of the agreement
• Negotiate with the company, if some of the conditions in the agreement are unreasonable
• Be realistic about what terms of the agreement you can achieve
• Reconsider a new project, if the agreement is very unreasonable
• Discuss the terms of the agreement with e.g. your supervisor or someone in the same field
• Remember that your supervisor is your academic mentor and not your legal counsel
• Seek professional guidance if necessary
• Remember confidentiality
• A project is only for a few months – an agreement might inconvenience you for years!

As a student at AAU, your rights and obligations are independent of those of the university because you are not employed by the university. This means, that any inventions or other findings of value that you discover during a project belongs to you. This also means, that you have to finance any protection you may wish to have of these intellectual properties yourself.

If you sign a non-disclosure and rights agreement with a company in relation to a student project, you are therefore obliged to pay any potential compensation claims in case of a breach of the agreement.