Research Affiliates Program
For more information on the research Affiliates Program, please contact Dr. John Ziegert.
Draft 11/13/2007
The purpose of this document is to describe a Research Affiliates membership program in support of the automotive engineering research activities at Clemson University.
1. Purpose: The purpose of the Research Affiliates program is:
a. to encourage industry participation in the Automotive Engineering research activities at Clemson University
b. to provide a forum where industry representatives from OEMs and suppliers can interact and share ideas
c. to serve as mechanism for technology transfer of research results to industry
d. to provide a mechanism for industry to guide research directions and activities at Clemson University
2. Membership and dues: There are two levels of membership:
a. Member - $50K/year
b. Associate member - $10K/year
3. Benefits of Membership:
a. Access to facilities at GCEC at Member rates
b. Recruiting opportunities with students in the Automotive Engineering M.S. and Ph.D. program
c. Opportunity to learn about interests and priorities of other Member companies
d. Opportunity collaborate with other Member companies on pre-competitive research
e. Opportunity to influence automotive research directions at Clemson
f. Access to latest research results
g. Share in IP generated by the program
4. Steering committee:
a. The Research Affiliates program will be guided by a Steering Committee
b. Membership of the steering committee will consist of:i. Director of CGEC
ii. One designated representative from each Member companyc. The Director of CGEC will serve as the Chair of the Steering Committee
d. The Steering committee will meet twice a year to:i. Review research results from on-going projects sponsored by the Research Affiliate program
ii. Review other automotive engineering research activities at Clemson University
iii. Suggest appropriate future directions for automotive research at Clemson
iv. Select new research projects to be funded by Research Affiliates program annual dues
v. Approve other proposed uses of dues moniese. Steering Committee meetings are open to all Clemson automotive engineering faculty who may participate in discussions, but have no vote on committee decisions
5. Research projects:
a. Membership dues will primarily be used to sponsor small pre-competitive research projects of interest to the members, but also may be used to support other activities of the Automotive Engineering faculty at Clemson, and to support and maintain the infrastructure at CGEC.
b. Projects may be proposed by participating faculty, students, or members in conjunction with participating faculty. Each proposed project must have a participating automotive engineering faculty member who will act as the project Principal Investigator, and who will be the responsible party for management of the approved funds, completion of the proposed research, and dissemination of results to the Members.
c. Projects will normally be of approximately 1 year duration with a budget in the range of $50K (including all Clemson University charges for indirect costs, etc., and appropriate charges for use of CGEC major facilities).
d. Proposed projects will be selected by a vote of the Steering Committee membershipi. Each Member company has 10 votes
ii. Votes may be distributed to as few or many projects as desired
iii. Proposed projects with the highest vote totals will be funded (up to the available funds)
iv. If any member company directs all 10 of its votes to a proposed project with a total budget not exceeding the annual membership dues at that time, that project will be funded.
6. Publication
a. Results of research projects sponsored by the Research Affiliates program may be presented orally or as posters during the semi-annual meetings. A final report will be produced for each project summarizing the results.
b. All Members and Associate Members will receive electronic copies of all final reports, as well as any oral presentations or posters.
c. Clemson faculty and students may elect to publish results of research sponsored by the Research Affiliates program in appropriate Conference Proceedings of archival Journals, with appropriate and reasonable delays to protect intellectual property.
7. Intellectual Property
- a. Intellectual property developed under sponsorship of the Research Affiliates program is the property of Clemson University.
b. All Members in good standing at the time the research is performed, and who share equally in the cost of obtaining any patents, are entitled to a permanent, fully paid, non-exclusive, royalty free license to the IP.
8. Relationship with other Donor Programs
a. Pioneer Partners of CU-ICAR (BMW, Timken, Michelin, CUREF, State of South Carolina) and other major donors as may be identified from time to time, are Ex-officio Members of the Research Affiliates program and may designate an individual to attend all meetings and research presentations.
b. Ex-officio Members do not have voting privileges on the Steering Committee, will not receive electronic copies of research reports and presentations, and will not share in rights to IP generated under sponsorship of the Research Affiliates program.
c. Ex-officio Members may become Members by paying the annual membership dues.