How Imperial Consultants can help

Each year we help Imperial's academics deliver more than 1000 projects - and we've been doing so for 35 years.

Whether you’ve been approached by a client and you aren’t sure what to do next, or you’ve consulted before, but this next job is more complicated, Imperial Consultants will support you from first discussions to final payment.  

“Twenty years ago, BASF asked if I could give a lecture. This led to some consultancy and then an ongoing collaboration. Since then they have funded two PhD students and a postdoc whose project contributed to our winning a European Research Council Advanced Investigator Grant worth €1.5m. With consultancy you experience new things – and who knows where that could lead." Professor Tom Welton Faculty of Natural Sciences

We help scope the project and manage the relationship with the client, plus we deal with the administrative and legal side – including contract and fee negotiations, due diligence on the client, insurance, purchasing, billing and credit control.  

We also help maximise the impact of your project, and ensure the excellent reputations of both you and Imperial are protected in any outputs and communications.

Discover the full range of support you can expect.

Thinking of going it alone?

While Imperial’s academics aren’t required to work through Imperial Consultants,  we are the University's preferred route, and a must for anyone wanting to use Imperial’s IP or facilities during their project - or their affiliation to Imperial on any output (which is what clients generally want).

If you do choose to consult directly for a client, you will need to seek legal advice to negotiate your own contract, and take out your own indemnity insurance.

What's more, the client will need to sign the university's 'Waiver for Private Work', and the rights to any IP resulting from the project will need to be negotiated.   

Discover what you'll miss out on if you choose to go it alone.