Quick contract handling? - here is how!
The fine-tuning of the school's new organization and department-based operational support is in full swing, and positive changes are already noticeable. Among other things, the management of the school's research agreements has become more efficient, where some key factors have become clear.
Jonna Holmlund Åsman , responsible for contract management of externally funded research projects, has a full grasp of this positive trend.
“Thanks to the department-based support and, above all, the management coordinators, all necessary functions are now involved more quickly. It is noticeable that all departments now have management coordinators in place, which gives us good conditions to improve and refine the process around agreement management”, says Jonna Holmlund Åsman.
The routine for contracts related to external research funding and collaborations has been in place for several years but given the school's new department-based support and resources linked to each department, the following provides for the most efficient contract management possible.
- Firstly, KTH employees should avoid working in projects and collaborations without a contract or understanding. Although all parties are eager to get started with the research, legal requirements, KTH regulations and, not least, risks for individual researchers mean that it is important for KTH to have contracts or understandings in place before the work begins.
- The management coordinator of the respective department should be contacted as soon as funding has been granted or when an idea for external collaboration has emerged. They make an initial assessment and then, if necessary, contact the contract coordinator, who in turn contacts the contract lawyer if deemed necessary. The more detailed and earlier information as possible to the management coordinator, the faster the handling and shorter the time to a signed agreement.
- The management coordinators involve finance through our joint case management system to start with their tasks and preparations. The department support teams - management support, finance and HR - will further simplify cooperation within operational support and improve support for the business.
If you, as a researcher, need help determining who is authorized to sign an application, a funding decision or a contract, please contact your management support coordinator or directly at avtal@eecs.kth.se .