Creating work collaboratively and openly is not without challenges. The work of researchers is embedded in a network of relationships with institutions, industry, funders, patients, patient groups, research participants, and more.

Many of these relationships rely on formal legal agreements. Whether researchers are sending materials and data to one another (material and data transfer agreements), funders are providing the funds needed to conduct research (funding agreements), groups are collaborating on a single project (project collaboration agreements), groups are conducting an ongoing research effort (partnership and collaboration agreements), or research participants are giving their consent to have their materials and data released (informed consent forms), they all rely on legally binding agreements.

The tools below can be used to help you and your team discuss, adopt, and implement open science practices in a sustainable way.