Early in the process of applying for funding, researchers are encouraged to contact the Office of Research Services for advice and assistance. It's important to determine whether you are applying for a grant or negotiating a contract, and that's probably our most often asked question. All researchers should be aware that recently, many grants, particularly those from the Federal Government, come with contractual clauses attached and are referred to as Contribution Agreements.
Some helpful guidelines are on the following pages.
You may be expected to enter into a contractual arrangement in return for funding. Many companies insist that a confidentiality agreement be signed. This happens not only with research contracts but also with grants. The confidentiality of proprietary information must be assured. Researchers are encouraged to send these agreements to Research Services at any stage of a proposal before signing them.