Industrial Memberships for Purdue Centers and Consortia
Overview
Purdue University centers and consortia may be supported by membership fees that provide defined rights and benefits through a membership agreement. Under the University’s industrial membership approach, qualifying membership fees may be accepted without facilities and administrative (F&A) costs when the program meets the requirements below.
This guidance applies to both corporate members and government agencies that join a consortium under the same terms and conditions.
Eligibility Requirements
A consortium membership program may qualify for the F&A waiver when all of the following conditions are met:
- The organization paying the membership fee may not direct how its fee is used.
- At least three organizations—corporate entities or government agencies—must pay membership fees.
- Members paying the same fee level must receive the same membership benefits.
- Membership benefits may not give one member a competitive advantage over other members.
Grace Period
A center or consortium has an 18-month grace period beginning when its first member signs or when membership falls below three organizations. If the program does not meet the minimum membership requirement by the end of that period, F&A will be assessed.
Benefits of the Membership Model
Allowing qualifying membership fees to be used without an F&A assessment can:
- Provide companies and government agencies with a lower-cost entry point for engaging with a broad range of Purdue researchers.
- Expand consortium membership and create opportunities for additional F&A-bearing research outside the shared core projects supported by membership fees.
- Increase the resources available for the direct costs of center activities.
- Strengthen proposals for center awards through broader external participation and greater resources dedicated to center activities.
The grace period also gives new centers time to build momentum, recruit initial members, and reach the membership threshold needed to qualify for the waiver.
Memberships from Organizations with Multiple Divisions
An organization with multiple divisions may purchase more than one membership. However, its representation on technical committees and voting boards may not exceed one-third of the total representation or three memberships, whichever is lower.
Policy Background
Purdue established guidance for industrial memberships affiliated with centers and consortia in 2005 and subsequently updated it through later memoranda. The October 13, 2017 revision extended the policy beyond corporate members to include government agencies participating under the same membership terms and conditions.
Effective date: October 13, 2017
Other Consortium Resources
Starting a Research Consortium - Starting a consortium is a structured, multi-step process that involves planning, internal approvals, and coordination with Sponsored Program Services (SPS). This link provides a step by step guide to starting a consortium.
Designing Governance for a Research Consortium - This link helps faculty design a governance model for a research consortium that:
- Supports pre-competitive collaboration,
- Protects academic independence,
- Provides meaningful member engagement, and
- Aligns with institutional expectations for how research consortia are structured and operated
