What defines a formal research contract, and what is the difference between informal and formal collaborations

An informal collaboration in research is a voluntary, undocumented arrangement between researchers where knowledge, resources, or feedback are shared without formal legal contracts, whereas a formal research contract is a legally binding agreement between a research institution, a principal investigator, and an external funder. It defines the exact scope, financial terms, and expected deliverables for commissioned research, differing from a grant by establishing specific milestones and tighter controls over the results, often agreed with a formal contract. If you have any questions or concerns about a formal, or informal collaboration, please do submit an online form.