Partnering glossary
A shared vocabulary for life sciences business development.
These concise definitions describe how common terms are used in life sciences partnering operations. Organizations may use different terminology, and legal or scientific meanings should be confirmed with qualified specialists where appropriate.
External innovation
The organized search for technologies, assets, capabilities, or collaborations originating outside an organization.
- Often includes scouting, triage, relationship development, and opportunity qualification
Licensing opportunity
A potential transaction in which defined rights to intellectual property, technology, data, or an asset may be granted under agreed terms.
- Can be inbound or outbound
- Usually progresses through evaluation, negotiation, approval, and contracting
Opportunity evaluation
A structured assessment of a potential partnership using relevant scientific, clinical, commercial, strategic, operational, financial, legal, and relationship evidence.
- Should distinguish evidence, assumptions, risks, and recommendations
Alliance management
The coordination of governance, relationships, decisions, obligations, communication, and performance after organizations begin a strategic collaboration.
- Continues after an agreement is signed
Decision room
A consolidated view of the evidence, evaluation, risks, recommendation, missing information, stakeholders, tasks, and approvals required for a defined decision.
- Designed to make review more focused and traceable
Partnering pipeline
The portfolio of potential and active partnership opportunities, usually organized by stage, priority, strategic area, owner, and expected next decision.
- Not equivalent to a conventional revenue pipeline
A connected decision process
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