Due Diligence Assessments
The following questions are intended to help you in your initial due diligence assessments for research relationships. We would encourage you to consider each question in turn. Even if you are working with a long term colleague or friend, a change in their circumstances such as employer or location can significantly change the risk associated with the partnership.
- NPSA Trusted Research Guidance for Academia Provides detail on the context of why this is important
- NPSA Checklist Provides an in depth framework for due diligence assessment
Why does your partner want to work with you?
The first thing to consider is the nature of your relationship with the potential partner.
-
Do you know them, or is this a cold call?
-
Does it fit with your research profile and theirs? Consider looking at their recent publications.
Where is the organisation or institution based?
Things to consider would include:
- Is the organisation associated with a country which is under sanctions imposed by the UK government? UK Gov Sanctions
- Is it a country which has different democratic and ethical values from our own? Useful resources include Corruption Perception Index and FCDO Travel Advice
- Do these raise questions give you any concerns around your academic freedom or potential for damage to you reputation?
What is your partners area of work?
Does the collaborator/ partners / funders have any links to the military / defence programmes? Are they (or their state) involved in weapons of mass destruction (WMD) research and development programmes ? Reviews of publications or Google searches may help to uncover these.
Are the terms standard for a research relationship?
Red flags would include:
- A partner who wishes high levels of control over the direction of the intended research activities, or asking for a commitment to participate in any required activity.
- A partner who wishes ownership and control over storage and processing of resulting data/IP.
- An offer which is more attractive than typical (perhaps more than a UK partner might offer)
- Any unusual requirements for excessive confidentiality about final destinations, customers, or specifications of items.
Support available
If you have any concerns, or need assistance with your assessment, please contact the Research Governance and Integrity Team via Ivanti.