COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF GENOA
AND
THE UNIVERSITY OF …...................

The University of …...... [full address], hereinafter also referred to as XXXX, in the person of its pro-tempore legal representative, the Rector, Professor …....................., acting on the basis of the provisions contained in Ministerial Decree no. …...... of ….......... / [other legislative provisions] and
the University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy, hereinafter also referred to as UNIGE, in the person of its pro-tempore legal representative, the Rector, Professor Federico Delfino, acting on the basis of the provisions contained in Ministerial Decree no. 820 of 30 October 2020, singly referred to in this Agreement as 'the party' or jointly as 'the parties':
 
PREAMBLE
 
− pursuing the same goals in the areas of learning, research and the dissemination of culture;
− being committed to the direct application and recognition of the importance and the use of knowledge as a contributor to social, cultural and economic development;
− having a reciprocal interest in constructing and developing relations of international cooperation;  
The Parties agree as follows:
 
Article 1: Objective
 
XXXX and UNIGE shall seek to establish forms of cooperation in teaching, science, management and culture that contribute to the development and consolidation of the ties of friendship between the two academic institutions and the two countries on the basis of the principles of equality and reciprocal benefit.
Cooperation between the Parties may be developed through:
− mobility of undergraduate and post-graduate students, lecturers and professors, researchers, and technical and administrative personnel;
− collaboration in activities of particular scientific interest also through the sharing of experience in the use of complex technical/scientific apparatus;
−  Implementation of undergraduate, post-graduate and PhD courses issuing joint or double degrees;

− cultural initiatives of common interest such as seminars, lessons and study meetings;
− development of initiatives aimed at improving governance and management;
− development of joint projects to be presented for funding by the European Commission or other supranational organisations;
− actions targeted at communicating and disseminating knowledge acquired within the framework of this agreement through direct relations with the Parties' operating environment and its actors.
The implementation of the activities foreseen by this article shall follow the indications established in the Implementation Programme (Programma Esecutivo di Implementazione – PEI) and contained in Annex 1 that shall constitute an integral part of the Agreement.

Article 2: Contact persons
 
To implement the activities foreseen in article 1 each Party shall designate at least one contact person chosen from within its institution who shall be responsible for coordinating and promoting jointly the common lines of actions, verifying periodically the state of implementation and assessing and promoting collaboration projects in the areas of teaching, scientific research and management.
The Parties hereby appoint as contact persons: Prof/Dr …............. for XXXX and Prof/Dr ….... for UNIGE.  
 
Article 3: Implementation agreements
 
Forms of cultural and scientific cooperation in sectors of interest in addition to the mobility of lecturers and professors, researchers, and technical and administrative personnel will be regulated by dedicated executive projects and related implementation agreements between the two Universities or their related bodies such as Departments, Schools, etc. with a specific interest in such projects. These projects and agreements shall comply with this Agreement and current legislation.
The implementation agreements shall regulate the ways in which cooperation between the Parties take place and specify in particular the following areas: teaching, research, organisation, finance & management. Such agreements shall establish the property rights relating to the results produced by cooperation, how the results will be used, in addition to specific aspects concerning safety and insurance cover.

Article 4: Duration, termination, renewal
 
This Agreement shall come into effect upon the signature of both Parties; the date of the last signature thereof taking precedence. This Agreement shall remain in effect for five years. Each Party may terminate the Agreement by serving six months’ written notice and supplying adequate motivation for termination. Any activity in progress at the moment of termination or expiry of this Agreement shall be completed in accordance with the conditions established in the activity's specific implementation agreement.
On termination of this Agreement, the contact names indicated in article 2 shall jointly prepare a report on the activities carried out and the results achieved. The contact names shall also jointly prepare an intermediate report providing the same details after three years from the coming into effect of this Agreement.
In the event of renewal of this Agreement, the Parties may confirm, amplify or modify the objectives of this Agreement and the methods of implementation, subject to the approval of the respective competent bodies .
 
Article 5: Intellectual Property Rights
 
Ownership of the technical and scientific results produced by this Agreement shall, unless established differently by a specific implementation agreement, be  assigned to both Parties. In accordance with their respective legislations the Parties shall take all reasonable steps to protect and promote the value of such results. In the event of results produced through separate research initiatives, the intellectual property rights of these results shall belong to the Party where the  results are obtained, unless otherwise previously agreed.
In order to promote the marketability of the results obtained, the implementation agreements shall also establish ex ante the procedure to be adopted in the face of possible claims to property rights made by personnel belonging to one of the Parties or by those in contact with such personnel.    
 
Article 6: Confidentiality of Information
 
The Parties shall take all reasonable steps not to divulge to third parties any confidential data or information acquired in relation to or in the carrying out of the activities foreseen by this Agreement.  
 
Article 7: Costs, assistance and support
 
With the aim of carrying out the activities foreseen by this Agreement, the Parties shall raise the necessary economic resources within the limits of and in accordance with legislation in force in their countries. Where funds provided by outside bodies, such as Government Ministries, Supranational entities, public and private entities, the European Commission etc., are not assigned to a project, the cost of this project shall be met by the technical/scientific body or bodies directly involved in the project,  after appropriate financial feasibility checks. All costs shall be specified in the specific implementation agreements.  
Each Party shall provide, in accordance with their respective laws and regulations, all necesssary assistance and support to visiting students, teaching staff, researchers and technical and administrative personnel as established in specific implementation agreements.  
Article 8: Safety
 
As regards safety in the workplace for visiting members of staff of the partner University, where the host University belongs to an EU Member State, the host University shall conform to applicable European Union legislation; where the host University belongs to a non-EU Member State, the host University shall conform to applicable national legislation.    
 
Article 9: Insurance
 
In accordance with the applicable provisions in force in their respective countries, both Parties shall verify the insurance cover, including healthcare, of participating members.

-	UNIGE provides mobility students and staff with an insurance coverage for civil liability and accidents. The insurance policy states terms and conditions of the coverage. Students and staff must acquire, at their own expense, an additional insurance policy to be adequately covered if necessary.
-	University of……………………….. (please fill in)…………………………..

 Where the implementation agreements set forth in article 3 foresee scientific and laboratory activities, such implementation agreements shall specify the details of insurance cover.    
 
Article 10: Handling of Personal Data
 
The Parties shall handle and store data held on computer and on hard copies relating to the carrying out of the activities foreseen both by this Cooperation Agreement and the implementation agreements set forth in article 3 in accordance with their applicable national legislations.  
 
Article 11: Incompatibility
 
The Parties declare that none of the personnel participating in the activities foreseen by this Cooperation Agreement find themselves in a situation that might give rise to incompatibility or conflicts of interest pursuant to applicable national legislations and that the related provisions of such legislations shall be  respected at all times.
 
Article 12: Disputes and Final Provisions
 
The Parties consider this Cooperation Agreement as a declaration of intent that does not have the legal force of a formal legal contract. The Parties agree therefore wherever possible to seek an amicable resolution of any dispute.
The specific cooperation initiatives described will be started only where sufficient economic resources exist; no Party shall be obliged to participate in or develop an activity for which external or internal resources are not already available.
The resolution of any disputes arising during the carrying out of any executive project as referred to in article 3 shall conform to the provisions established in the project's specific implementation agreement.  
In all cases, the present Academic Cooperation Agreement shall apply solely to the extent it does not contradict applicable national legislation.
The present Agreement is signed in ….... copies in English, Italian and ….... . The Parties receive one copy in each language. In case of  inconsistency of interpretation, the English text shall prevail over the language texts.

Genoa, [date]						[place],  [date]
 
For the University of Genoa				For the University of …................
The Rector                                                        	The Rector
Professor Federico Delfino				….......................................

                                                                                       

Seal                                                                                      Seal

ANNEX 1
TO THE COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF GENOA
AND
THE UNIVERSITY OF …...................

DEFINITION OF EXECUTIVE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME

The present document, 'the Executive Implementation Programme' hereinafter 'the EIP', is an integral part of the Cooperation Agreement between the University of …...... [full address], hereinafter also referred as XXXX, and the University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy, hereinafter also referred to as UNIGE, singly referred to in this Agreement as 'the party' or jointly as 'the parties'.

The EIP is functional to the realisation of the aims established in the Cooperation Agreement and will include but is not limited to the following actions:
1.	Joint activities in the following areas, which will include:
1.1. ….................................
1.2  ….................................
1.3  …..................................
2.	Preparation of curricula necessary to obtain double/joint degrees and to enable the participation of teaching staff, researchers and technical-administrative personnel in teaching programmes, including the joint supervision of dissertations, and undergraduate and doctoral students' study periods;
3.	Joint research in the areas specified above, including joint publications and participation at related conferences;
4.	Promotion of dedicated consortia made up by research groups from both Universities established to participate in university cooperation, research and technology programmes promoted by the European Commission or other international bodies;
5.	Joint organisation of summer schools, workshops and seminars in areas of interest and study and learning courses for teaching staff, researchers and managers of both Universities;
6.	Cooperation between teaching staff, researchers and technical-administrative personnel of XXXX and UNIGE within the framework of continuing education in the design and delivery of joint teaching courses for individuals and employees of other institutions both from the public and private sectors, principally in the areas established at point 1;
7.	Joint preparation of reports also containing information, statistics and expertise requested by other institutions.

To favour the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement and this EIP, reference shall be made to the provisions contained in article 3 of the Cooperation Agreement. 
  
To favour the implementation of the measures described in this EIP, both Parties agree to create specific work groups appropriate for the actions/objectives established and made up by teaching staff, researchers and technical-administrative personnel from both Universities. 

For any matters not provided for in this EIP, reference shall be made to the Cooperation Agreement of which the present EIP is an integral part.

The present Executive Implementation Agreement is prepared in ….... original copies in English, Italian and ….... . The Parties receive one copy in each language. In case of inconsistency of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.