AVN is Independent
Working with AVN, companies can move forward with the confidence that their technology solutions are the right solutions, not just the convenient or best-understood ones.
AVN is an independent organization that has a deep passion for delivering customer-focused innovation. AVN is not an equipment or technology reseller that may have a specific bias or incentive to push a specific technology or solution. In addition, AVN’s multi-disciplinary team approach ensures that no single individual can bring a specific technology or experience bias to a project. AVN’s primary goal is to create value for its customers. Sometimes, this has even resulted in AVN recommending that a company not pursue a specific technology route because it was technically or commercially not feasible. AVN’s number one goal is to create or protect value for our customers.
AVN Customers Retain Intellectual Property Rights
AVN customers retain all intellectual property rights in their technologies and service agreements offer the ability to start and cease work easily and quickly.
For chemical, energy, environment and software-based companies and organizations, intellectual property is often the core to value creation in their businesses. Unlike AVN, many other companies that offer contract R&D services can have complex intellectual property requirements. Those organizations may be under certain Federal regulatory schemes or have inflexible organizational policies around the allocation of intellectual property rights. AVN understands that innovation and technology are core to our customers’ businesses and that, because of this, retaining intellectual property rights is not just a preference, it is a business imperative for many customers. Therefore, AVN arrangements with customers are incredibly flexible based upon the needs of the customer and AVN does typically not place encumbrances on intellectual property. AVN understands that it is essential that the arrangements be mutually beneficial since one-sided agreements are unlikely to lead to a continuing relationship. AVN is willing to explore several mutually beneficial options to make our customers successful.
Confidentiality
AVN considers it extremely important to protect the confidentiality of information received from clients. Some of the steps in place to protect this information are described below.
AVN will not accept project work with a competitor of an existing customer in a similar business area.
AVN executes confidentiality agreements with customers, pledging to protect the data entrusted to us.
Employees associated with AVN sign secrecy agreements to ensure the security of confidential information.
All confidential information received from customers is handled on a “need to know” basis within AVN.
AVN withholds printing of descriptive project titles, or the identity of the client when requested, in annual reports or in other reports to external organizations.
All external communication of information from customer-supported projects is prohibited, except with written approval of the customer. This applies to any chemical-catalyst-catalyst-testing-chemical-catalyst-chemical-pilot-plant-demonstration-plant-solids-processing-chemical-separations to the press or other media, seminar presentations, and any publications.
Research notebooks and data records are held confidential, and access is permitted only by authorized internal personnel.
AVN personnel strive to uphold the highest standards of personal and professional ethics. Our business is conducted with the greatest regard for honesty and integrity. Any situations involving potential conflict of interest will be carefully avoided.
As an early step in pursuing a potential business relationship, we will execute a non-disclosure agreement pledging to protect the information entrusted to us.
Confidentiality
Steps Involved
The steps below depict how a typical research agreement is developed with AVN.
- After initial contact, AVN and the potential client will execute a non-disclosure agreement to protect the confidentiality of any information exchanged.
- The two parties then discuss the project goals and potential approaches to be pursued, in sufficient detail that a project proposal may be prepared.
- AVN will then prepare a draft project proposal for review by the client, including a project schedule, milestones, and estimated costs.
- After review by the client and incorporation of any revisions, the proposal is converted to one or more Statements of Work.
- A general services agreement is then prepared, which outlines the details of the working relationship. The Statements of Work are appended to this contract.
- After execution of the agreement, work can begin.
“The innovative and driven spirit AVN brought to the project is truly unique. Although I have worked with many contractors and consultants (and even consulted myself), none have matched the partnership mentality you all operated by over the years. I believe you all share with myself and my company a common value system of humility, passion, unity, servanthood and thankfulness not just when things are going our way, but more importantly, when our back was against the wall, which happened often over the years. I have appreciated your willingness to contribute creative, balanced opinions that helped shape our thought process.”
An AVN Value
“We cherish fast-paced market-driven innovation and life-changing research and development to deliver the best, most cost-effective value proposition for our global customers.”
Let's Get In Touch
Contact Us
Locations and Business Units
Corporate Headquarters,
Chemical Process Technologies,
Technical Engineering,
Specialty & Custom Chemicals Manufacturing
Physical Address
1740 Union Carbide Drive
South Charleston, WV
25303
Mailing Address
P. O. Box 8396
South Charleston, WV
25303
Locations and Business Units
Advanced Software Technologies
Physical Address
430 Drummond Street, Suite 2
Morgantown, WV
26505
