Partnership models on Halo: what they mean and when to choose them
Last updated: November 2, 2026
Where partnership models show up
A partnership model describes how you and an industry partner would work together: who funds what, who does the work, and who ends up owning the result. You'll see them in two places:
Partnering requests. The industry partner selects the models they're open to. This tells you what kind of deal is on the table before you submit a proposal.
Partnering listings. You select the models you're open to, so partners know how they could engage with your technology, service or expertise.
Select only the models you'd actually agree to. Selecting every option makes it harder for a partner to tell what you want.
The eight models
Sponsored research
The industry partner funds you to carry out a research project, and they benefit from the results without doing the work themselves. At a university, this usually runs through a sponsored research agreement that sets out IP rights and other terms, and indirect costs may apply.
Be open to it when you have a research question or early-stage technology that needs funding to test, and you're comfortable agreeing IP terms with a company. This is the most common model for academic labs on Halo.
Gift/award
The partner provides funding with no required deliverables. With an unrestricted gift, you and your institution typically keep all IP and other rights.
Be open to it when you're doing early or exploratory research in an area the partner cares about. It's the lowest-obligation way to receive funding.
Co-development
You and the partner develop a solution together, sharing resources and expertise throughout. Expect regular joint work, shared decisions and negotiated ownership of what you build together.
Be open to it when your technology needs the partner's application knowledge, materials, equipment or scale to get to market, and you want an ongoing working relationship rather than a single handoff.
Supply/purchase
The partner buys or sources a product, material or technology you already make.
Be open to it when you have something available today that you can deliver at the quantities and quality the partner needs. This model fits suppliers and later-stage startups more than early research.
Licensing
The partner gets the right to use your technology while you keep ownership. Licenses typically involve upfront payments, milestone payments and royalties, and can be exclusive or non-exclusive, and limited by field or territory.
Be open to it when your technology is protected by a patent or patent application and you'd rather the partner develop and sell it than build it yourself. University researchers should involve their tech transfer office, which usually manages licensing.
Fee-for-service
The partner pays you for specific technical or operational work with defined deliverables, timelines and costs, such as testing, analysis, modeling or manufacturing runs.
Be open to it when you have facilities, instruments or expertise you can apply to someone else's problem on a set scope. This model fits service providers, core facilities and consultants. Agree up front who owns the data and results.
Equity investment
The partner invests capital in your company in exchange for an ownership stake.
Be open to it when you're a startup raising money and want a strategic investor in your field. It doesn't apply to university labs or individual researchers.
Employment
The partner hires you as an employee or contractor to work within their organization.
Be open to it when you're an individual interested in joining or contracting with the partner's team, for example through an Experts request.
How to choose
Start with who you are and what you're offering. Most innovators fit two or three models.
If you are... | Usually open to |
|---|---|
An academic lab with early-stage research | Sponsored research, gift/award, co-development |
A researcher or university with patented technology | Licensing, sponsored research, co-development |
A startup with a product or prototype | Supply/purchase, co-development, licensing, equity investment |
A supplier with an existing product or material | Supply/purchase, co-development |
A service provider, CRO or core facility | Fee-for-service |
An individual expert or consultant | Fee-for-service, employment |
A few rules of thumb:
Match your stage. Supply/purchase, licensing, fee-for-service and equity investment fit work that already exists. Sponsored research, gift/award and co-development fit work that still needs development.
Check the request. If a request lists only models you can't offer, it probably isn't a fit. If you're unsure, ask in the request's Q&A.
Talk to your institution first. If you're at a university, your tech transfer or corporate relations office usually signs off on sponsored research and licensing terms. Check which models they support before you select them.
Revisit your listing as you grow. A model that didn't fit at TRL 3 may fit at TRL 7. Update your listing from Edit profile > Partnering listings.
Related articles
Questions? Email support@halo.science.