Duke External Partnerships – Driving Tomorrow's Innovations Through Purposeful Partnerships
Source: https://externalpartnerships.duke.edu
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:13
Duke External Partnerships – Driving Tomorrow's Innovations Through Purposeful Partnerships
Driving Tomorrow’s Innovations Through Purposeful Partnerships
The Office for External Partnerships establishes, facilitates, and supports mutually beneficial relationships between public and private sector organizations and the University to accelerate basic and translational research and innovation across Duke that will significantly impact society.
Begin Your Next Partnership
We’re excited to introduce you to Duke University’s Office for External Partnerships (OEP). We serve as your central point of contact, making it easier for businesses and organizations like yours to connect with the incredible resources here at Duke. Think of us as your personal concierge; we’re here to understand your specific goals and help you navigate the university to find the right research, technologies, and collaboration opportunities. With Duke’s significant annual research funding and numerous patents, our aim at the OEP is to simplify the process of partnering with us, ensuring that we create mutually beneficial relationships by aligning opportunities with your interests and ours, ultimately driving success through these tailored partnerships. We encourage you to reach out to us so we can explore how we can collaborate.
For Organizations & Potential Partners
How the Office for External Partnerships helps for-profit, non-profit, and government organizations partner with Duke innovation.
Explore services
For Faculty & Research Staff
How the Office for External Partnerships helps faculty and research staff partner with for-profit, non-profit and government organizations.
Explore services
Duke’s Approach
Facilitate Access to Duke Faculty and Assets
The Office for External Partnerships (OEP) proactively pursues and supports partnerships between Duke University and any external parties, including but not limited to business, government, and corporate foundations. Such partnerships leverage any University faculty, staff, and students, as well as intellectual property, resources, and other assets to address important problems of interest to the partners.
Engage In Active Business Development
The Office for External Partnerships (OEP) will also engage in active business development seeking strategic corporate partnerships and will strive to involve the broadest possible spectrum of Duke faculty and other assets in such relationships.
Provide Advisory Services and Tactical Funding
On a selective basis, OEP will provide advisory services and tactical funding to Duke teams to facilitate partnership formation.
Convene Relevant Parties
Once interest is expressed by a potential partner or by Duke faculty, OEP then convenes relevant parties to explore, negotiate, and close contractual relationships deemed mutually beneficial and compliant with pertinent regulations and Duke policies and provide project management support.
While faculty, staff, or students can initiate dialogue directly with companies, OEP offers several services when developing and executing on partnerships:
Strategic advice to build a comprehensive partnership
Research and report on the historical connections between the company and Duke
Make contacts with relevant leadership at partner organization
Logistical support for arranging meetings, contracting, and negotiation
Interfacing with the Office for Translation & Commercialization (OTC) for intellectual property and Office for Research Contracts (ORC) to establish and review partnership terms
Project manager support to facilitate development of scope of work, meeting milestones, preparing reports and overseeing budgets
Irrespective of support from OEP, faculty and staff are obliged to utilize Duke contracting processes and inform us of such engagements unless the proposed relationship is unrelated to Duke employment or facilities.
Liaise With Other Duke Administrative Units
Our team also liaises continuously with other Duke administrative units, especially with Development in relation to corporate philanthropy, Translation and Commercialization for licensing and start-ups, and with Student and Alumni Affairs in relation to opportunities for internships and employment.
Work With a Specific School, Institute, or Center
Contact a member of our team to get started.
Schools
Institutes
Centers & More
Divinity School
Victor Taylor
Fuqua School of Business
Victor Taylor
Graduate School
Victor Taylor
,
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Nicholas School of the Environment
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Pratt School of Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Dan Dardani, CLP
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Dan Dardani, CLP
Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Dan Dardani, CLP
Sanford School of Public Policy
Victor Taylor
School of Law
Victor Taylor
School of Medicine
Diagnostics
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Devices
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Therapeutics
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
School of Nursing
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Arts & Humanities
Victor Taylor
Computer Science
Dan Dardani, CLP
Natural Sciences
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Social Sciences
Victor Taylor
Duke Cancer Institute
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI)
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Duke Clinical Research Institute
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Duke Global Health Institute
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Duke - Margolis Institute for Health Policy
Victor Taylor
John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute
Victor Taylor
Kenan Institute for Ethics
Victor Taylor
Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Social Science Research Institute
Victor Taylor
Duke Athletics
Victor Taylor
Duke Lemur Center
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
or
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
Victor Taylor
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
Victor Taylor
University Data
Dan Dardani, Ph.D.
Other Center Not Listed
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Featured Story
Duke–Industry Materials Connect: 2025 Kickoff Event Brings Together Regional Industry and Duke Materials Science
Feb 9, 2026
Duke–Industry Materials Connect: 2025 Kickoff Event Brings Together Regional Industry and Duke Materials Science The Duke Materials Initiative and the Duke Critical Minerals Hub, in conjunction with Duke’s Office for External Partnerships, hosted the inaugural...
read more
Get in Touch
Call us. Email us. We will try to help you and if we can’t, we will find someone who can.
Contact the Team
Driving Tomorrow’s Innovations Through Purposeful Partnerships
The Office for External Partnerships establishes, facilitates, and supports mutually beneficial relationships between public and private sector organizations and the University to accelerate basic and translational research and innovation across Duke that will significantly impact society.
Begin Your Next Partnership
We’re excited to introduce you to Duke University’s Office for External Partnerships (OEP). We serve as your central point of contact, making it easier for businesses and organizations like yours to connect with the incredible resources here at Duke. Think of us as your personal concierge; we’re here to understand your specific goals and help you navigate the university to find the right research, technologies, and collaboration opportunities. With Duke’s significant annual research funding and numerous patents, our aim at the OEP is to simplify the process of partnering with us, ensuring that we create mutually beneficial relationships by aligning opportunities with your interests and ours, ultimately driving success through these tailored partnerships. We encourage you to reach out to us so we can explore how we can collaborate.
For Organizations & Potential Partners
How the Office for External Partnerships helps for-profit, non-profit, and government organizations partner with Duke innovation.
Explore services
For Faculty & Research Staff
How the Office for External Partnerships helps faculty and research staff partner with for-profit, non-profit and government organizations.
Explore services
Duke’s Approach
Facilitate Access to Duke Faculty and Assets
The Office for External Partnerships (OEP) proactively pursues and supports partnerships between Duke University and any external parties, including but not limited to business, government, and corporate foundations. Such partnerships leverage any University faculty, staff, and students, as well as intellectual property, resources, and other assets to address important problems of interest to the partners.
Engage In Active Business Development
The Office for External Partnerships (OEP) will also engage in active business development seeking strategic corporate partnerships and will strive to involve the broadest possible spectrum of Duke faculty and other assets in such relationships.
Provide Advisory Services and Tactical Funding
On a selective basis, OEP will provide advisory services and tactical funding to Duke teams to facilitate partnership formation.
Convene Relevant Parties
Once interest is expressed by a potential partner or by Duke faculty, OEP then convenes relevant parties to explore, negotiate, and close contractual relationships deemed mutually beneficial and compliant with pertinent regulations and Duke policies and provide project management support.
While faculty, staff, or students can initiate dialogue directly with companies, OEP offers several services when developing and executing on partnerships:
Strategic advice to build a comprehensive partnership
Research and report on the historical connections between the company and Duke
Make contacts with relevant leadership at partner organization
Logistical support for arranging meetings, contracting, and negotiation
Interfacing with the Office for Translation & Commercialization (OTC) for intellectual property and Office for Research Contracts (ORC) to establish and review partnership terms
Project manager support to facilitate development of scope of work, meeting milestones, preparing reports and overseeing budgets
Irrespective of support from OEP, faculty and staff are obliged to utilize Duke contracting processes and inform us of such engagements unless the proposed relationship is unrelated to Duke employment or facilities.
Liaise With Other Duke Administrative Units
Our team also liaises continuously with other Duke administrative units, especially with Development in relation to corporate philanthropy, Translation and Commercialization for licensing and start-ups, and with Student and Alumni Affairs in relation to opportunities for internships and employment.
Work With a Specific School, Institute, or Center
Contact a member of our team to get started.
Schools
Institutes
Centers & More
Divinity School
Victor Taylor
Fuqua School of Business
Victor Taylor
Graduate School
Victor Taylor
,
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Nicholas School of the Environment
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Pratt School of Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Dan Dardani, CLP
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Dan Dardani, CLP
Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Dan Dardani, CLP
Sanford School of Public Policy
Victor Taylor
School of Law
Victor Taylor
School of Medicine
Diagnostics
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Devices
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Therapeutics
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
School of Nursing
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Arts & Humanities
Victor Taylor
Computer Science
Dan Dardani, CLP
Natural Sciences
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Social Sciences
Victor Taylor
Duke Cancer Institute
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI)
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Duke Clinical Research Institute
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Duke Global Health Institute
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Duke - Margolis Institute for Health Policy
Victor Taylor
John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute
Victor Taylor
Kenan Institute for Ethics
Victor Taylor
Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Social Science Research Institute
Victor Taylor
Duke Athletics
Victor Taylor
Duke Lemur Center
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
or
Sharlini Sankaran, Ph.D.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative
Victor Taylor
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
Victor Taylor
University Data
Dan Dardani, Ph.D.
Other Center Not Listed
Ed Pagani, Ph.D.
Featured Story
Duke–Industry Materials Connect: 2025 Kickoff Event Brings Together Regional Industry and Duke Materials Science
Feb 9, 2026
Duke–Industry Materials Connect: 2025 Kickoff Event Brings Together Regional Industry and Duke Materials Science The Duke Materials Initiative and the Duke Critical Minerals Hub, in conjunction with Duke’s Office for External Partnerships, hosted the inaugural...
read more
Get in Touch
Call us. Email us. We will try to help you and if we can’t, we will find someone who can.
Contact the Team