This document discusses technology-driven partnerships between the CGIAR and private companies. It outlines the interests of both parties, including CGIAR's interest in accessing technologies and private companies' interest in corporate social responsibility. It provides examples of royalty-free technology license models and discusses CIAT's guiding principles and some successful models. Lessons learned are that such partnerships require strong foundation support, stewardship, negotiation skills, and clearly defined products, while communication is also important.

1. Technology-driven
partnerships:
Overview
2015
Palmira, Colombia
Joe Tohme

2. Technology-driven partnerships
CGIAR Interests
• Access to technologies -knowledge that will speed up the delivery
• Access to high throughput infrastructure
• Access to bioinformatics tools and gene expression databases for
targeted traits
• Access to molecular markers linked to traits of interest
• Sharing information of past and current work (learning what did
not work is as important as getting funding)
• Access to genes and genes constructs
• Freedom to operate and licensing for relevant technologies

3. Technology-driven partnerships
Interest of private companies
• Provide mechanism for implementation of
Corporate social responsibilities commitments
• Allow staff to interact with CGIAR researchers of
similar interest
• Extend the testing of technologies to new
environment
• Stimulate discussions on novel strategies for
development new products

4. Technology-driven partnerships
Interesting models
Royalty-Free Technology License
Non profit Heath- Ag
• One World Health
• 2Blades Foundation
Non profit agriculture – CGIAR, AATF, NARS…
• Golden Rice: BMGF-USAID funded project
• Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA); BMGF-USAID
funded project
• Nitrogen-use Efficient, Water-use Efficient and Salt
Tolerant (NEWEST): USAID funded project

5. Technology-driven partnerships
CIAT Guiding Principles
• Clear Link to CIAT Mission
• Driving motive: Accelerate Impact
• In compliance with CGIAR Intellectual assets policies
• Creating added values to farmers and consumers
• Recognition of Partners Needs
• Clear Definition of Roles, Responsibilities, and Expectations
• Transparent Collaboration
• Appropriate Management of Risk
• Dissemination of Results
• Ensuring High Standards of Quality and Ethics

6. Technology-driven partnerships
CIAT Successful models

7. • Willingness of private sector researchers to collaborate and provide
inputs
• Agreements that involve multiple companies are not easy to establish
• Liability issues are becoming important for every company: how to
shield the providers from lawsuits?
• Time consuming process of negotiations with either focal points or
company lawyers
• Stewardship, good practice and trust are key to successful negotiations
• Agreements must show stewardship on best practices
• The private sector expects to be presented with specific and detailed
business plan (not a continuous series of requests and not too many
contacts persons)
Technology-driven partnerships
Lessons learned

8. • CIAT has a diverse portfolio for IMPACT
• Royalty-Free Technology License from industry to
CGIAR are doable but requires strong support from
Foundations and Development Agencies -
extensive discussion – high transaction cost
• Stewardship, strong negotiating skills, best
practices and trust are key
• Need for well defined final products
• Communication strategies required
Technology-driven partnerships
Key messages