NORFIAD

Network of Research for Innovation and Development

Overview

NORFIAD is a founder-led research network, incorporated in the UK as a company limited by guarantee.
Our mission is to provide a secure governance and record-keeping framework so that member-led projects can collaborate effectively, safeguard their intellectual property, and document their work to a professional standard.

Research within NORFIAD is conducted entirely through projects. The organization itself does not offer consumer products or clinical services.

What NORFIAD Provides

• A structured, documented framework for project initiation, reporting, and closure.

• Internal IP stewardship: deposit, time-evidence, and archival of materials.

• Role-based access to information, with full traceability of decisions and records.

• Clear pathways toward publication or spin-off entities, where appropriate and lawful.

Governance

NORFIAD is governed by the Founder together with a Council of Senior Partners.

• All formal decisions are recorded with reasons in a dedicated register.

• Urgent actions are permitted in matters of safety, law, or time-critical necessity, and are subject to prompt review.

• The complete governance framework is set out in the NORFIAD Constitution (available in full below).

Membership

Membership is structured to reflect both experience and responsibility:

• Senior Partners – hold governance rights and mentor others.

• Partners – active project participants with voting rights.

• Junior Partners – developing members engaged in learning and projects.

• Collaborators – time-limited, project-bound roles (single/multi/partial involvement); no voting rights.

Projects

Every project within NORFIAD is created with:

• A defined scope and objectives.

• A designated team and mentors.

• A mandatory safety statement and data management plan.

Projects are classified into two confidentiality levels, ensuring both transparency where possible and protection where necessary.

Intellectual Property & Publication

• Ownership: All IP deposited with NORFIAD remains the property of its Owner (individual or team).

• Internal license: Upon deposit, NORFIAD receives a non-exclusive, internal-use license to evaluate and build upon the IP within the organization.

• External use: Any external activity—licensing, sharing, or third-party publication—requires the Owner’s written consent and participation in negotiations.

• Acknowledgment: Publications must credit NORFIAD and follow disciplinary norms; classified outputs require Council approval before release.

Records & Evidence

NORFIAD maintains strict record-keeping practices:

• All significant documents carry a Document ID, version number, and cryptographic fingerprint with trusted time evidence.

• Registers are maintained for:

  • Documents

  • Decisions

  • Disputes

  • Deposited Intellectual Property

• Methods are technology-neutral to ensure continuity over time.

Contact

General enquiries: Information about NORFIAD’s mission, processes, or framework.

Membership enquiries: Send a short outline of your field, experience, and interests.

📩 Response time: typically 3–5 working days.