Collaborative research offers numerous benefits to individual team members, the University and society at large. By collaborating with other researchers or industry partners, you can combine diverse expertise and skills, leading to more comprehensive and innovative research outcomes. Collaboration can also accelerate research, foster creativity and innovation and help individual researchers to build broader professional networks, open up opportunities for future projects and career advancement.
However, collaboration also comes with challenges and risks, such as determining the ownership and management of intellectual property, effective coordination and communication, differences in institutional policies and research cultures, and ensuring security and confidentiality. Clear communication, well-defined agreements and mutual respect are key to overcoming these challenges.
Researchers involved with collaborative research have an obligation under the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research to:
- Comply with the relevant laws, regulations, disciplinary standards, ethics guidelines and institutional policies related to responsible research conduct. Ensure that appropriate approvals are obtained prior to the commencement of research, and that conditions of any approvals are adhered to during the course of research.
Researchers also need to keep in mind their responsibility to:
- Disclose and manage actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest.
UniSQ Researchers, whether they are conducting research solely under the auspices of the University of Southern Queensland or in collaboration external parties, are required to adhere to the standards and requirements described in UniSQ’s research integrity arrangements. UniSQ researchers should also encourage collaborators to adhere to the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and their own institution’s policies and guidance material. When faced with differing standards or requirements (e.g. in terms of authorship), UniSQ Researchers should seek advice from the Office for Research and keep a record of the consultation. Researchers involved in collaboration across institutions must ensure that differences in standards do not compromise the integrity of data collection and analysis. Effective collaboration requires a clear understanding of the roles, responsibilities and expectations of all parties.
All Research Activities involving University Researchers and external parties that include funding or formal requirements must be entered into the University’s Research Information Solutions Ecosystem (RISE), and governed by an agreement that has been signed by the University's authorised delegate as per the Delegations Policy and Financial Delegations Schedule prior to commencement.
Research projects that include the participation of a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Student must comply with the University's Higher Degree by Research Student Policy, the Higher Degree by Research Supervision Procedure, and related University Policy Instruments.
Researchers are bound by the legal obligations and responsibilities of their contractual Research Agreements. Prior to the commencement of any Research Activities, Researchers must ensure that a Research Agreement is in place. In addition, Researchers must ensure there is an appropriate risk management plan, data management plan, ethics approvals and environmental and occupational health and safety requirements are in place, and that the University has access to the appropriate facilities and infrastructure to support the Research project.
Researchers should also be aware of any Background Intellectual Property, that is, any Intellectual Property that a party brings into a project or collaboration that was created before the project began, or was otherwise developed independently of the project. An Employee, Student or Visitor must not use Background Intellectual Property owned by them or by a third party for a University activity (including a University Project), unless a written licence is in place.
Where Research is undertaken internationally, in collaboration with non-Australian partners, or where international contractual obligations apply, Researchers will also comply with the relevant legislation and regulations that guide Research conduct in the relevant jurisdictions.
Ensure to also consider any requirements around trade controls, foreign interference, sanctions, modern slavery and the use of generative artificial intelligence when considering and conducting collaborative research. The University’s Research Management Procedure contains further advice and you can seek guidance from the Research Contracts Office.
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