Guidelines, Terms and Conditions for FAB Research Sponsorship

GUIDELINES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR FAB RESEARCH SPONSORSHIP

FAB Research is open to engaging in relationships with other organisations (both commercial and non-commercial) to help the charity to fulfill its mission. However, any such collaborations, joint activities and all sponsored events or programmes must conform to FAB Research’s mission, values and priorities, and to the following guidelines.

SPONSORSHIP GUIDELINES RELATING TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF SUPPORT FOR EDUCATIONAL EVENTS ORGANISED AND RUN BY FAB RESEARCH

FAB Research recognises that sponsorship from companies and other organisations is usually needed to support our educational events, in order to make these accessible to as many of our audiences as possible.

The following guidelines are designed to preserve the scientific integrity and independence of FAB Research, while meeting the need for transparency in acknowledging all sources of support.

1.  All sponsors of FAB Research events must be publicly acknowledged.

2.  FAB Research strongly prefers to have more than one sponsor for each event. If this is not possible, then support must always be provided in the form of an unrestricted educational grant.  

3.  Responsibilities for event programmes, organisation and speaker invitations rest with the Events Committee of FAB Research and its Scientific Advisors, subject to the final approval of the FAB Research Board.  For information purposes, advance consultations on programme themes, topics and overall content is permitted with major sponsors (Gold or Platinum), but final responsibility always remains with the FAB Research Board and its Advisors.  Decisions on event programmes, organisation and speaker invitations will always remain independent of the sponsoring organisation(s).

4.  Presentations at FAB Research events must be educational. Priority is always given to speakers from non-commercial organisations whenever possible, and all speakers are requested to disclose any potential conflicts of interest at the planning / invitation stage.  It is recognised, however, that employees of commercial organisations may sometimes have a unique perspective or expertise on a specific topic. In these cases, presentations by such employees may sometimes be permitted, provided that these are not used in any way for promotional purposes.  Advertisements in any form are not acceptable, except where these are clearly defined as such (i.e. such materials may sometimes be provided in delegate packs).

5.  Promotional exhibitions by sponsors, including informational and advertising materials, may be displayed separately from the educational sessions at some conferences, workshops, symposia or other FAB Research events.

6.  Any sponsorship from companies or other organizations does not constitute an endorsement of their products or services and must not be represented as such by the sponsoring organisation in any way.

7.  FAB Research will retain ownership and authority of all FAB Research events, programs, Associate member services, awards, and communication vehicles. 

8.  FAB Research will retain complete editorial control over all sponsor-related communications to its audiences and Associate members.

9.  Sponsorship will always be subject to final approval by the FAB Research Board. The Events committee (or persons appointed by them for this purpose) have the authority to pursue sponsorship opportunities and negotiate terms according to the set guidelines, but final approval of such agreements rests with the Board. 

10.  The FAB Research Board retains the authority to decide which events, programmes and services a sponsor may be associated with, and will have final approval. 

11.  The use of the FAB Research name and/or logo, or representation of such, without the written or electronic consent of the FAB Research Board is strictly prohibited.

12.  All sponsorship agreements and payments must take the form of an unrestricted educational grant to FAB Research. Exceptions to this may be possible in some circumstances (e.g. exhibitor-only support for a specific event), but only if confirmed in advance by explicit written agreement.

SPONSORSHIP OF SPECIFIC EVENTS

Sponsors may sometimes choose to support the advancement of knowledge exchange and scientific advance on a specific theme via designated talks or lectures, symposia, workshops or conferences.

As with general event sponsorship, any such support must be provided as an unrestricted educational grant to FAB Research, such that these funds may be used as designated by the Board to cover both the direct costs of events, and any other elements of the charity’s general running costs as may be required.

The charity’s Board and Scientific Advisory Committee will always remain responsible for selection and invitation of speakers, and for all other aspects of programme design.

Support will be acknowledged as an unrestricted educational grant on the opening and closing slides, acknowledged by the event chair, and on the web and printed programs.

SPONSORSHIP OF EXTERNAL EVENTS

FAB Research has limited financial resources, and gives priority to using these to support its own educational and scientific events, organised by the FAB Research Events Committee, and using its own highly skilled and experienced in-house FAB Events team. 

Financial sponsorship for events run by other organisations is therefore provided only in exceptional circumstances, and only for not-for-profit activities which conform to the charity’s mission, values and priorities. FAB Research will retain complete editorial control over all FAB Research-related communications included in any events sponsored by FAB Research.

Any requests for FAB Research sponsorship/co-sponsorship should be submitted to the FAB Research Events Committee at least 90 days in advance for evaluation by the Committee and its Scientific and Professional Advisors, and for final approval by the FAB Research Board.