UTEK CORP
N-2/A, EX-10.15, 2000-06-02
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                      Sponsored Research Agreement between

         Advanced Reinforcing Technologies, Inc. and Cornell University
                                   OSP# 35866

THIS AGREEMENT is entered into by and between Advanced Reinforcing Technologies,
Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the "Sponsor") and Cornell University, a
non-profit, educational institution having corporate powers under the laws of
the State of New York (hereinafter referred to as the "University").

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the effort contemplated by this Agreement is of mutual interest and
benefit to the University and to the Sponsor, will further instructional and/or
research objectives of the University in a manner consistent with its status as
a non-profit, tax-exempt, educational institution, and may derive benefits for
both the Sponsor and the University through inventions, improvements, and/or
discoveries;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto agree to the following:

1.    Definitions.


      1.1.     "Project" shall mean the work funded under this Agreement as
               described in Exhibit A hereof.

      1.2.     "Intellectual Property" shall mean individually and collectively
               all inventions, improvements and/or discoveries, including
               deliverable software, if any, which are conceived and first
               reduced to practice in the performance of the Project.

      1.3.     "Sponsor Intellectual Property" shall mean Intellectual Property
               conceived and first reduced to practice solely by one or more
               employees of the Sponsor.

      1.4.     "University Intellectual Property" shall mean Intellectual
               Property conceived and first reduced to practice solely by one or
               more employees of the University.

      1.5.     "Jointly Owned Intellectual Property" shall mean Intellectual
               Property conceived and first reduced to practice jointly by one
               or more employees of the University and by one or more employees
               of the Sponsor.

2.    Work. The University agrees to use reasonable efforts to perform the
      Project.

3.    Key Personnel. The following individuals are identified as key personnel
      for the performance of the Project:


                Dr. Petru Petrina, Principal Investigator



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Agreement No.35866 1/4/99

      If for any reason the Principal Investigator or any other key personnel
      become unable to continue the Project the University and Sponsor shall
      attempt to agree upon a successor. If the parties are unable to agree upon
      a successor, this Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with Article
      11., Termination for Convenience.

4.    Period of Performance. The period of performance of this Agreement will be
      April 1, 1999 through March 31, 2000.


5.     Reports and Conferences.

      5.1.     The University (Dr. Petru Petrina) shall furnish the Sponsor
               quarterly progress reports during the term of this Agreement
               summarizing the work conducted. A final report setting forth the
               accomplishments and significant findings shall be submitted by
               the University within thirty (30) days of the expiration of this
               Agreement.

      5.2.     During the term of this Agreement, representatives of the
               University may meet with representatives of the Sponsor at times
               and places mutually agreed upon to discuss the progress and
               results, as well as ongoing plans, or changes therein, of the
               Project.

6.     Costs and Payments.


      6.1.     It is agreed to and understood by the parties that the University
               shall be reimbursed for all costs incurred in connection with the
               Project up to the amount of $30,000 (the "Project Cost") as
               established by the budget in Exhibit A which is incorporated
               herein. It is estimated that the amount designated as the Project
               Cost is sufficient to support Project expenses.

      6.2.     The Sponsor shall not be liable for any payment in excess of the
               Project Cost unless this Agreement is modified in writing. Within
               ninety (90) days after the termination of this Agreement the
               University shall submit a final financial report setting forth
               costs incurred. The report shall be accompanied by a check in the
               amount, if any, of the excess of funds advanced over costs
               incurred.

      6.3.     All checks shall be made payable to Cornell University and sent
               to the address specified in Article 19, Notices. Payment shall be
               made by the Sponsor according to the following schedule:

                           $18,000  within 120 days of signing this Agreement
                           $6,000   October 1, 1999 (within 7 days of receipt of
                                    quarterly report)
                           $3,000   January 1, 2000 (within 7 days of receipt of
                                    quarterly report)
                           $3,000   April 1,2000

7.    Equipment. Title to any equipment purchased or manufactured in the
      performance of the Project shall vest in the University.

8.    Use of Name. Neither party shall make use of this Agreement, or use the
      name of the other party, nor that of any member of the other's staff, in
      any publicity, advertising, or news

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Agreement No. 35866 1/4/99

      release without the prior written approval of the other party. This shall
      not include internal documents available to the public that identify the
      existence of this agreement.

9.    Publications.


      9.1.     The Sponsor recognizes that under University policy, the
               University shall have the right, at its discretion, to release
               information or to publish any material resulting from the
               Project. The University shall furnish the Sponsor with a copy of
               any proposed publication thirty (30) days in advance of the
               proposed publication date. The Sponsor may request the University
               to delay release of such proposed publication for a maximum of an
               additional thirty (30) days in order to protect Intellectual
               Property, or Confidential or Proprietary Data described therein.
               Such delay shall not be imposed on the filing of any student
               thesis or dissertation.

      9.2.     The Sponsor will be given full credit and acknowledgment for the
               support provided to the University in any publication resulting
               from the Project.

10.   Intellectual Property.


      10.1.    All rights and title to University Intellectual Property shall
               vest in the University.

      10.2.    All rights and title to Sponsor Intellectual Property shall vest
               in the Sponsor.

      10.3.    All rights and title to Jointly Owned Intellectual Property shall
               vest jointly in the University and in the Sponsor.

      10.4.    University and Sponsor shall promptly provide a complete written
               disclosure to each other of any Intellectual Property. The
               Sponsor shall, upon reviewing the disclosure, determine whether
               to request the University to file and prosecute any patent
               application, domestic or foreign, or application for other
               protection directed to University Intellectual Property or to
               Jointly Owned Intellectual Property described in such disclosure.
               The Sponsor shall bear all costs incurred in connection with such
               preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance of U.S. and
               foreign applications. The Sponsor shall cooperate with the
               University to assure that such applications will cover, to the
               best of the Sponsor's knowledge, all items of commercial interest
               and importance. While the University shall be responsible for
               making decisions regarding scope and content of applications to
               be filed and prosecuted, the Sponsor shall be given an
               opportunity to review and provide input thereto. The University
               shall keep the Sponsor advised as to all developments with
               respect to such applications and shall promptly supply to the
               Sponsor copies of all papers received and filed in connection
               with the prosecution thereof in sufficient time for the Sponsor
               to comment.

      10.5.    An agency of the U.S. Government, another sponsor or an
               individual may have certain rights in Intellectual Property. The
               University will use reasonable efforts to obtain rights from
               third parties in order to make available to the Sponsor any
               rights as this Agreement contemplates, provided that the Sponsor
               shall reimburse the

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Agreement No.35866 1/4/99

               University for all reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining such
               rights, including payment of any expenses to acquire rights or
               licenses.

      10.6.    If the Sponsor requests a license in University Intellectual
               Property or Jointly Owned Intellectual Property within thirty
               (30) days of receipt of the invention report, the University will
               negotiate in good faith a license agreement. The Sponsor will
               have a three month right of first refusal to negotiate a License
               Agreement on any intellectual property that is developed as a
               result of this Sponsored Research Agreement.

      10.7.    Should Sponsor not elect to pay for protection of University
               Intellectual Property or Jointly Owned Intellectual Property,
               Sponsor shall have no further rights in such Intellectual
               Property.

11.   Termination for Convenience. This Agreement may be terminated at any time
      by either party giving the other party at least sixty (60) days written
      notice of termination. In the event of termination by the Sponsor, the
      University will be reimbursed for all expenses and non-cancelable
      commitments incurred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement prior
      to the date of the termination notice. In no event shall the liability of
      the Sponsor exceed the Project Cost.

12.   Independent Contractor.


      12.1.    In the performance of the Project the University shall be deemed
               to be and shall be an independent contractor and, as such, the
               University shall not be entitled to any benefits applicable to
               employees of the Sponsor.

      12.2.    Neither party is authorized or empowered to act as an agent for
               the other for any purpose and shall not on behalf of the other
               enter into any contract, warranty, or representation as to any
               matter. Neither shall be bound by the acts or conduct of the
               other.

13.   Insurance.


      13.1.    The University warrants and represents that the University has
               adequate liability insurance, such protection being applicable to
               officers, employees, and agents while acting within the scope of
               their employment by the University, and that the University has
               no liability protection for any other person.

      13.2.    Each party hereby assumes any and all risks of personal injury
               and property damage attributable to the negligent acts of that
               party and the officers, employees, and agents thereof.

14.   Force Majeure. The University shall not be liable for any failure to
      perform as required by this Agreement to the extent such failure to
      perform is reasonably beyond the University's control, or by reason of any
      of the following: labor disturbances or labor disputes of any kind,
      accidents, failure of any governmental approval required for full
      performance, civil

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Agreement No.35866 1/4/99

      disorders or commotions, acts of aggression, floods, earthquakes, acts of
      God, energy or other conservation measures, explosion, failure of
      utilities, mechanical breakdowns, material shortages, disease or other
      such occurrences.

15.   Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
      accordance with the laws of the State of Florida.


16.   Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assigned by either party without
      the prior written consent of the other party.

17.   Agreement Modification. Any agreement to change the terms of this
      Agreement in any way shall be valid only if the change is made in writing
      and approved by mutual agreement of authorized representatives of the
      parties hereto.

18.   Notices. Notices, invoices, communications, and payments hereunder shall
      be deemed made if given by registered or certified envelope, postage
      prepaid and addressed to the party to receive such notice, invoice, or
      communication at the address given below or such other address as may
      hereafter be designated by notice in writing.

          If to the Sponsor:

Contractual:                        Dr. Reischl
                                    Advanced Reinforcing Technologies, Inc
                                    202 South Wheeler Street
                                    Plant City, Fla. 33566
                                    Phone:  (813)654-6113
                                    Fax:    (813)754-2383

Technical:                          Dr. Reischl
                                    Advanced Reinforcing Technologies, Inc
                                    202 South Wheeler Street
                                    Plant City, Fla. 33566
                                    Phone:  (813)654-6113
                                    Fax:    (813)754-2383

If to the University:

Contractual:                        Dianna Marsh
                                    Grant and Contract Officer
                                    Office of Sponsored Programs
                                    120 Day Hall
                                    Cornell University
                                    Ithaca, New York 14853
                                    Phone: (607)255-2940
                                    Fax: (607)255-5058
                                    [email protected]

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Agreement No.35866
1/4/99
          Payments:                 Cornell University
                                    Sponsored Funds Accounting
                                    P.O. Box 22
                                    Ithaca, NY 14851-0022
          Technical:                Dr. Petru Petrina
                                    Dept. of Theoretical & Applied Mechanics
                                    Cornell University
                                    305 Kimball Hall
                                    Ithaca, N.Y. 14853
                                    Phone: (607) 255-3143
                                    Fax: (607)255-2011

19.   Indemnification. The Sponsor hereby agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold
      harmless the University from any loss, claim, damage or liability of any
      kind including attorney's fees and court costs involving an employee or
      equipment of the Sponsor arising out of or in connection with this
      Agreement, except to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability
      arises in whole or in part from the negligence of the University.

This Agreement is the complete agreement of the Sponsor and Cornell and
supersedes all prior understandings regarding the Project.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused these presents to be executed in
duplicate on the dates indicated below.


CORNELL UNIVERSITY                          ADVANCED REINFORCING
                                            TECHNOLOGIES, INC



---------------------------                 ------------------------------------
Dianna Marsh
Grant & Contract Officer
Office of Sponsored Programs


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Date                                        Date









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