New process for researchers accelerates agreement completion

01 Apr 2026

As part of our 2035 strategy to better support the delivery of excellent research, we’re helping to speed up the creation of CDAs and NDAs

A new process for colleagues needing confidentiality disclosure agreements (CDAs) and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) has now been launched following small-scale testing (known as Proof of Concept) in the Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre, Henry Royce Institute and The School of Natural Sciences.

The new process, which requires colleagues to send a new form to the contracts team, will improve the experience for researchers who need CDAs and NDAs to progress with their work by automatically populating information. It also includes a tracker so colleagues can see the progress of their request.

One academic involved in the testing said: "I really like getting an email confirmation, as sometimes I wonder ‘Did I ever send that NDA?’, and the link to a tracker. I look forward to soon looking and seeing it has progressed to ‘in review’ rather than chasing up to ask what is happening?"  

A part of the Contracting Optimisation Project in the Research Enabling Portfolio, this change is the result of feedback from academic and Professional Services colleagues who have highlighted that the current process is long and admin intensive. 

Further information 

• Please visit the Contracts StaffNet pages for guidance and supporting information.

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