Research and development agreement
Drafting, review and negotiation of your company's research and development agreements.
"Ready to structure your next R&D collaboration? We've guided tech companies, startups and corporates through complex research and development agreements — book a call with me and my team."
Thomas Kuster · Partner @ LEXR · Book your free call →
Trusted by tech companies on commercial contracts
LEXR handled everything for us - from the founding of the company to licence agreements, service agreements and other contracts. Thomas and his team have always been very responsive. I usually had feedback within 2-3 days and was able to sit down with the client’s legal department very quickly.
Our collaboration with LEXR has been really close-knit. LEXR has proven to be an invaluable asset to startups like ours—agile, flexible, and swift in their operations, all while maintaining a high standard of quality. We rely on LEXR a lot, particularly for our commercial contracts, and have consistently found their services to be efficient and effective.
How we solve your challenges
From kick-off call to signed agreement — protecting your IP and maximising your innovative forces in every R&D collaboration.
We start with a joint kick-off call with our contracts legal expert to discuss your goals, the structure of the cooperation and the key clauses that matter most for your specific R&D relationship — whether you are working with a business partner or a public institution such as a university.
We draft your research and development agreement tailored to your specific cooperation setup — covering scope of work, IP allocation, confidentiality, remuneration and liability — using continuously improved, state-of-the-art drafting software and templates. Bespoke and flawless, with no junior time spent copy-pasting clauses.
We take the time to jointly go through the agreement with you and incorporate your feedback and adjustments across two feedback rounds. Your agreement evolves with your input until it precisely reflects the deal you have negotiated with your partner.
Your partner may get to know a lot of your valuable assets — innovative technology, unique software, proprietary data. We structure robust IP ownership and licensing clauses, confidentiality obligations and usage rights so that what is yours stays yours, even after the collaboration ends.
If your partner has presented their own draft R&D agreement, we analyse it for hidden risks, one-sided clauses and dangerous provisions, and negotiate improved terms on your behalf — ensuring you enter the collaboration on a level playing field.
How we deliver R&D Agreements, AI-amplified
Matter in
Brief us in plain language — we scope it and route it to the right specialist.
Intake < 4hAI does the heavy lifting
Our own AI stack drafts, reviews and cross-checks — inside privilege.
60% fewer draft cyclesSenior lawyer signs off
The specialist who built the strategy reviews and signs every output.
Lars Fidan 
Stephan Meyer 
Nadine Saalbach Output delivered
On scope, on the quoted price — delivered into your workflow.
Scope and price are fixed in writing before we start — AI absorbs the lift, not your budget.
Selected deal record
A snapshot of the contract and IP mandates we have guided to close.
Our expert R&D Agreement services
One team across the full agreement lifecycle — from first call to signed collaboration contract.
Find your perfect flat fee plan
R&D Agreement Drafting
All-in-one flat fee package including strategic planning, structure set-up, drafting and two feedback rounds for your bespoke research and development agreement. From CHF 3'000 (excl. VAT).
Book your free call →R&D Agreement Review
Get a report on any critical issues in a counterparty R&D agreement draft and a comprehensive assessment of the overall balance — with actionable negotiation recommendations.
Book your free call →Joint Development Agreement
Structured setup for joint development projects, covering IP ownership, milestone obligations, cost sharing and governance of the collaboration vehicle.
Book your free call →University & Public Institution R&D
Specialist advice on contracting with universities and public research institutions, including technology transfer terms, publication rights and grant-related constraints.
Book your free call →Why LEXR
Deep tech & IP expertise
Our lawyers understand how technology is built and where value is created. We structure R&D agreements that protect your innovations and align your interests with your partners — not just tick legal boxes.
Transparent, predictable costs
Flat-fee packages from CHF 3'000 mean you know the price before we start. No surprise hours, no billing-hour anxiety — just clear, upfront pricing so you can plan your budget with confidence.
Fast, tech-assisted delivery
Our advanced drafting tools produce a tailored first draft quickly, so your lawyers spend their time on strategy and negotiation — not formatting Word documents. Most agreements are delivered within days.
R&D Agreement FAQ
The questions founders and technology companies ask us most before entering a research collaboration.
A research and development agreement establishes the terms between two partners who cooperate to find and create new products or technology. It defines each party's obligations, contributions, IP ownership, and what happens to the results — so both partners have clarity and legal protection throughout the collaboration.
The most important point is the allocation of intellectual property created during the R&D process — who owns it, and who can use it and on what terms. Beyond IP, you need a fair remuneration and cost-sharing structure, clear scope and milestone obligations, confidentiality provisions, and a dispute resolution mechanism. We help you decide whether your project calls for a broader research framework or a more specific development agreement — and which hybrid form best suits your situation.
Yes. While both parties ultimately care about the value of the results, public institutions often have an interest in allowing public access to R&D outputs to enable broader innovation. Public institutions are also frequently constrained by law in their freedom to contract — they operate within defined boundaries. Understanding those boundaries is often crucial for successful negotiations with universities or government research bodies.
The central question is IP: who owns what is created, and who can use it, on what terms and for how long. Next comes remuneration — a balanced structure that aligns both parties' incentives. You also need to agree on who does what during the collaboration, what happens if milestones are missed, and how disputes are resolved. Our lawyers guide you through each of these dimensions and help you negotiate terms that protect your interests.
Hours to a few days, not weeks. Our tech-assisted drafting produces a tailored first draft quickly after our kick-off call, so senior lawyers can focus on refining the substance with you rather than starting from scratch each time.
Our all-in-one flat fee package for drafting a research and development agreement starts from CHF 3'000 (excl. VAT). This includes a kick-off call with a legal expert, a bespoke draft tailored to your cooperation, and two feedback rounds. The final fee depends on the complexity of your arrangement — book a free call for a precise quote.
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