Authorisation to sign research contracts
Research Services is the office designated by the University of Oxford to review all research-related contracts and to ensure that such agreements are acceptable under the University's policies and consistent with its position as an educational institution with charitable status.
In order to protect the interests of the University and its members, individuals may not sign research-related agreements on behalf of the University.
This is set out in Statute XVI: Property, Contracts and Trusts, Part C: Authority to bind the University: 14.
(1) Except as stated in this statute and in sections 24 and 25 of Statute VIII (University Press), no officer of the University, or any other person employed by the University or working in or in connection with any department or body within or under the control of the University, shall have authority to make any representations on behalf of the University or to enter into any contract on behalf of the University, except with the express consent of Council.
Senior Officers within Research Services have been granted authority by Council to sign research-related agreements on behalf of the University. It is recommended that the advice of Research Services be sought at as early stage a stage as possible when such a contract is being considered.