The European Commission has published guidance notes on confidentiality issues that are likely to arise for participants in projects funded by the European Community's seventh research framework programme (FP7). The guidance identifies the issues that parties need to consider at each phase of the project. As well as recommending that non-disclosure agreements be signed at the proposal phase, the guidance covers the confidentiality provisions of the FP7 model grant agreement and explains what precautions should be taken to preserve confidentiality when using and disseminating research results.

Source: IPR helpdesk guidance note, 3 July 2007.