What is due diligence?
Due diligence refers to the process of identifying risks and managing informed approvals prior to entering a research collaborations, partnerships or agreements.
The due diligence framework process provides a way to mitigate the risks, share good practice and have assurance that our research partners have the capacity and expertise to carry out the research or training.
Why do we have a due diligence process?
Due diligence is a process of carrying out investigative assessments to provide assurance on funders and third parties we intend to collaborate with. This is for both funded, and unfunded research and knowledge exchange projects based domestically and internationally.
Due diligence is carried out to:
- Establish whether those we intend to collaborate with align to our institutional values and risk appetite.
- Ensure that Royal Holloway University’s reputation and financial capital is protected.
- Ensure that Royal Holloway staff are legally protected and establish credible and successful partnerships.
- Ensure Royal Holloway University enters into ethical and secure international collaborations.
- Ensure Royal Holloway University complies with the requirements of our funders and regulators.
Due diligence at Royal Holloway University of London
In the Directorate of Research and Innovation we conduct due diligence assessments when:
- where we are entering into research or innovation partnerships (where we are in receipt of funding or in-kind contributions).
- we are providing funding to an entity through research and innovation activity.
- we are applying to a new funder.
We have an internal due diligence framework which helps to characterise the level of risk of working with a potential collaborator. When conducting our assessments we consider financial, legal, reputational and the track record of the collaborator.
We then manage a timely and efficient due diligence review process that is proportionate to the level of risk identified in our assessment of the partner. We have three tiers of assessment that reflect the level of risk identified these are basic assessment, standard assessment and an enhanced assessment.
This process exists to ensure that our activities continue to meet our institutional values and operate within our institutional risk appetite. It also ensures all collaborations comply with our financial regulations as well as legal obligations and security standards.
We conduct our due diligence assessments at application stage or prior to any activity taking place. The completed and approved assessments are passed onto the research contracts team to consider prior to the negotiation of a contract.
We ensure that high risk assessments, or assessments that may conflict with the University Principled Partnership Framework ( link), are escalated into the University Partnerships Committee for approval.
Useful links
- UK Research and Innovation fEC Grants Standard Terms and Conditions of Grant (see RGC 2.6.1 and RGC 2.6.2 page 7 of the document).
- Wellcome Grant Conditions (see 1.3 page 1)
- British Council Grant Terms and Conditions (see 4.4, 26.1.2 and 26.1.3 pages 5 and 16)
- NIHR Research Funding Good Practice Guide
- Universities UK – Managing risks in international research and innovation
- Universities UK – Managing risks in internationalisation: Security Related Issues
Trusted research guidance
Training and guidance
The Policy and Integrity team in Research and Innovation are working on an ‘Introduction to due diligence’ training module for academic staff that will form part of a Trusted Research training offer.
In the meantime, please contact Researchcompliance@rhul.ac.uk with any queries relating to training on due diligence.
Contact us
For general enquiries please contact Researchcompliance@rhul.ac.uk
