Topic

Confidential Disclosure Agreements

Who is this for?

University of Toronto (U of T) professors and faculty members who are interested in any of the following.

  • Exchanging or sharing proprietary or confidential information with an external party
  • Protecting confidential information exchanged in a meeting or presentation with a third party
  • Acquiring a signed confidential disclosure agreement (CDA) or non-disclosure agreement (NDA) by U of T

What do I need before I can begin?

Access to My Research systems and a valid UTORid.

Overview

Confidential disclosure agreement (CDAs) cover the exchange of proprietary, confidential information between two or more parties. They allow researchers and companies to protect their intellectual and proprietary property by placing a responsibility on the recipient of the information to keep it confidential and to not use the information in an unauthorized manner.

University of Toronto (U of T) professors and faculty members need to ensure that all research agreements are appropriately reviewed and executed by the university, and should understand and abide by the terms of confidentiality agreements regarding the receipt or sharing of confidential information.

Following the execution of the research agreement, all U of T project participants will be expected to complete a Confidential Information & Intellectual Property (“CIIP”) Agreement.

How to Request a Confidential Disclosure Agreement

All research-related confidential disclosure agreements are reviewed by the Innovations & Partnerships Office (IPO) to ensure they comply with U of T policies before they are sent to the third party. Only designated authorized signatories of the University can sign on behalf of the University.

Internal: U of T Professors/Faculty Members

U of T faculty members and professors should:

  1. Log into the My Research (MR) system using your UTORid
  2. Select the Non-Funded Agreements option in the menu and then Create Agreement
  3. Select Confidential Disclosure Agreement from the list of non-funded agreement types
  4. Complete and submit the online form to initiate the process towards a completed CDA

External: Third Parties

Third parties seeking a CDA or NDA with the university should contact IPO at innovations.partnerships@utoronto.ca and provide the following information.

  • Name and department of the researcher you are collaborating with
  • A list of all parties involved
  • Your complete contact information
  • Description of the confidential information to be exchanged
  • Relevant important deadlines

Forms & Downloads

VPRI Role

  • Assist with confidential disclosure agreements regarding research collaboration or innovation
  • Provide advice to U of T faculty and staff regarding the terms of the agreement
  • Negotiate the terms with third parties
  • Finalize agreements and help obtain all necessary University signatures

VPRI Contact

Staff

Other Resources