MMC (Material Management Center)

FAQ

｜About Material｜About MTA｜About MMC｜About Convention on Biological Diversity｜

About Material

What is "Material"?: Materials(tangible research materials) are tangible objects that satisfy all of the following four conditions:
1. An item created or acquired through research activities;
2. An item with academic value, proprietary value, or value equivalent thereto;
3. An item that is not copyrighted material (paper, program, etc.); and
4. An item that is subject to particular constraints (not sold in stores, requiring the conclusion of an MTA, etc.) and not generally traded.
ex)genes, cells, seeds, experimental animals, soils, rocks, compounds, new materials, trial products, etc.
How academic and proprietary value of materials is judged?: Basically all items created by university's staff are valuable, and moreover, their value is judged on the basis of creator's intention, social needs and so on.
Is there material handling rules?: Please refer to intellectual property rules of each university.
Material possession: As materials are created using public funds, materials do not belong to researchers but to university in principle (Ref. intellectual property rules of each university). Materials created by researchers as a result of activities outside university belong to researchers.
Possession of materials created on contracted study: It depends on the terms and conditions of the contract.
If not included in the contract, please contact us.
Who is the creator of a material which was made by a student on graduation research?: If a substantial contribution is recognized, the student may be the creator.
Even if a creator is a student, a material created using university's equipment belongs to university in principle.
How materials created on joint research are handled?: It depends on the terms and conditions of the contract.
If not included in the contract, please contact us.
Is an application needed when transferring a material with a joint research partner?: It depends on the terms and conditions of the contract.
If not included in the contract, please contact us.
What kind of procedure is needed when transferring a material to an outside party?: Please go to Registration＆Application Procedure Page to register material information and apply for outgoing material transfer.
An MTA draft will be made based on the application information.
*The process from application to MTA conclusion can be found at Contract process page
How to deal with an MTA received from a provider when receiving a material from an external institute.: Please go to Registration＆Application Procedure Page to apply for incoming material transfer. MTAs sometimes contain terms and conditions which are disadvantage for recipients. MMC will check the contents and amend them as necessary.
Do conditions vary depending on provider organizations?: Providing materials to for-profit institutions such as an enterprise is onerous in principle. Providing materials to academic and non-profit institution(ex. university, research institute) is gratuitous in principle but manufacture cost and shipping cost can be required. In either case, material transfer is conducted based on a contract.
*Application for outgoing material transfer
What kind of care is needed when transferring materials abroad?: Please conclude an MTA before transferring a material. Furthermore, please check Security Export Control Policy about materials to be provided.
Can I take materials with me when moving to a different organization?: Basically materials created at university can be transferred in terms of the research continuity. As an MTA between the university and the organization is needed for transfer, please contact us early.
Can I bring materials when moving from another organization?: Consultation with the organization is needed. MMC will handle that responsibly, please contact us early.

About MTA

What is MTA?: MTA (which stands for Material Transfer Agreement) is a contract that governs the transfer of research material between organizations. Agreements regarding rights, management and so on with respect to the material are written in an MTA.
Why is MTA needed?: An MTA defined rights and obligation of a provider and a recipient concerning proprietary rights, publications, patents, so on.
An advance MTA helps you to avoid trouble.
How does the MMC MTA process work?: Please apply for outgoing/incoming material transfer from Registration＆Application Procedure Page.
*The process from application to MTA conclusion can be found at Contract process page.
How long does the MTA process take?: [In the case of outgoing material transfer]
An MTA draft will be sent within 3 business days from the date of the outgoing material transfer application.

[In the case of incoming material transfer]
An MTA draft will be checked within 3 business days from the date of the incoming material transfer application, and if there is no problem with the content, the MTA will be subsequently signed.

In both cases, MTA processing period may be affected by the presence or absence of MTA amendment or negotiation or the response of the other party. Please apply early.
*The process from application to MTA conclusion can be found at Contract process page.
Is there any difference of the content between Japanese and overseas MTAs?: MTA content depends on the policy of the research institute or the enterprise rather than the country of the other party. Additionally, overseas MTAs require careful thought. Please contact us early.
Is report to MMC necessary when purchasing experimental animals or research ingredients?: General purchase contracts are dealt with by individual researchers. If an MTA is required related to purchase, please contact us.

About MMC

Do I have to pay management fee or commission when using MMC?: There is no charge. We always welcome your inquiries regarding outgoing/incoming material transfers.

About Convention on Biological Diversity

In what cases would considering of CBD be required?: In the cases of (1)-(5) below, procedures according to the rules of CBD may be required. If you have questions about handling of overseas bioresources other than the below, please contact us.

(1) A contracted/joint research with an overseas research institute
(2) A case of receiving a material from an overseas enterprise/research institute
(3) A case of taking a material during overseas research activities
(4) A case that a foreign researcher/student brings an overseas material as a research ingredient
(5) Others, handling of overseas materials you own

*Please use our Inquiry form