Summary of terms of grant agreement 

The following is intended as a high-level summary of some of the key terms of the Grant Agreement which each Natasha’s Prize winner will be required to enter into with Natasha’s Foundation.  

It does not constitute legal advice or replace or supersede the Grant Agreement which the parties sign. It is also not a substitute for carefully and fully reviewing the Grant Agreement. 

Natasha’s Foundation cannot provide legal advice on the Grant Agreement. A Natasha’s Prize winner must seek independent legal advice on the Grant Agreement as it requires.

Use of funding

  • Funding must only be used for the research project to which the relevant Grant Agreement relates, and in accordance with an agreed project plan and approved budget.

  • Any substantial changes to the project, budget, timelines, or other related items must be approved in writing in advance by Natasha’s Foundation.

  • Funds cannot be received from third parties without prior written approval.

  • Any unspent or uncommitted funds on early termination of the Grant Agreement or at the end of the project must be promptly returned to Natasha’s Foundation. 

Reporting and project oversight

  • Recipients must provide regular progress reports throughout the grant period.

  • Natasha’s Foundation may request additional updates or meetings where needed.

  • Natasha’s Prize winners are expected to openly share details of progress, significant issues hindering progress, and learnings throughout the project.

  • Natasha’s Prize winners and key research personnel may be asked to participate in cohort meetings, annual reviews, events, and community activities in relation to the relevant Natasha’s Prize. 

Data sharing and publication

  • Recipients are expected to share research findings and data in accordance with an agreed data sharing plan.

  • Project results (including methodology and related items) must , wherever possible, be published in open access, peer-reviewed journals and otherwise in accordance with scientific best practice.

  • A Natasha’s Prize winner must or must ensure that the project principal investigator seeks to present project results  at scientific and academic conferences.

  • The ability to request reasonable amendments to proposed publications to remove confidential information, and the ability to request delays are permitted where necessary to protect or exploit project intellectual property. 

Intellectual Property

  • Each party retains ownership of its background intellectual property, and Natasha’s Foundation has the right to use a Natasha Prize Winner’s background intellectual property to use and exploit project intellectual property in accordance with the Grant Agreement. 

  • The relevant Natasha’s prize winner owns project intellectual property.

  • Natasha’s Foundation receives a perpetual, non-exclusive, sub-licensable licence to use that project intellectual property including for internal, charitable, and/or non-commercial purposes.

  • Commercial exploitation, transfer or licensing of that project intellectual property requires prior written consent from Natasha’s Foundation which it may reasonably withhold. In particular, Natasha’s Foundation can withhold consent until an appropriate commercialisation agreement negotiated in good faith has been entered into between the parties. 

  • If a Natasha’s Prize winner does not protect, manage and/or exploit any project intellectual property then Natasha’s Foundation may protect, manage and/or exploit it as it sees fit, including to support or facilitate its future development in line with its charitable mission. In those circumstances, the relevant Natasha’s Prize winner must ensure its employees and other relevant individuals do what is reasonably needed to support Natasha’s Foundation in the performance of its activities. 

  • Save as set out in the Grant Agreement, use by either party of the other party’s branding, logos or similar items requires prior written approval.

Compliance and research standards

  • The project must be conducted in accordance with applicable laws  and best scientific practice.

  • Recipients must use best endeavours to mitigate the risk of scientific misconduct.

  • Any allegations of research misconduct connected with the project, and progress and outcomes of any ensuing investigations, must be reported as early as possible. 

Publicity and acknowledgement

  • Publications, presentations and other public communications relating to the project and/or the relevant Natasha’s Prize must include agreed language acknowledging that Natasha’s Prize and Natasha’s Foundation.

  • Natasha’s Foundation may publicly reference funded projects, research highlights, and participating organisations, excluding a Natasha’s Prize winner’s confidential information. 

Record keeping 

  • A Natasha’s Prize winner must maintain records, reports and related items relating to expenditure using funds from the relevant Natasha’s Prize during the grant period and for six years afterwards.

Delay, withholding and suspension

  • Natasha’s Foundation can delay, withhold, suspend or adjust payment of some or all of the relevant Natasha’s Prize if certain things happen, including where a Natasha’s Prize winner fails to meet any agreed milestones or deliver any agreed deliverables, or where notice to terminate the contract has been served.

Liability and insurance

  • Neither party excludes or limits its liability in any way not allowed by law. Subject to that, neither party is liable for any indirect or consequential loss and Natasha’s Foundation is not liable for any loss or damage arising from running of the project, use of the relevant Natasha’s Prize or withdrawal, withholding, suspension or reduction of that Natasha’s Prize. 

  • Natasha’s Foundation’s total liability is limited to the amount of the relevant Natasha’s Prize paid to the Natasha’s Prize winner. 

  • Each Natasha’s Prize winner must indemnify Natasha’s Foundation in respect of that Natasha’s Prize winner’s acts and omissions during and following the Project and obtain and maintain adequate insurance during the grant period and for six years after termination or expiry of the Grant Agreement. 

Grant period and termination

  • Extensions and continuation of the grant period are at Natasha’s Foundation’s sole discretion.

  • Either party can terminate the Grant Agreement due to typical events of default including for material breach.

  • Upon early termination, any then unspent and uncommitted grant funds must be returned to Natasha’s Foundation promptly and within 30 days.