AURI offers a tiered discount structure on labor and equipment rates tailored to the size of the entity.
Small businesses with annual sales under $1 million receive an 80% discount on base rates.
Medium-sized businesses (with sales between $1 million and $10 million) and Minnesota-based Research Promotion Councils qualify for a 50% discount.
Large Minnesota businesses with sales over $10 million receive a 20% discount. Out-of-state entities are not eligible for discounts.
Fee-for-service and other contract arrangements to catalyze market impacts to support innovation and commercialization across value-added agriculture opportunities.
To meet resource needs as AURI faces increasing industry demand for its services, which it can no longer adequately meet with current funding sources.
Minnesota’s Office of the Legislative Auditor recommended AURI implement a project fee or fee for service model with its clients. The recommendation aligns AURI with its statute language, which requires AURI to seek funds from other sources, including fee for service revenues.
AURI will have an initial consultation with clients at no cost. AURI will respond to basic questions from businesses and individuals without a fee until a project application and scope of work are formalized.
AURI’s Virtual Assistant, AVA, is a free virtual assistant for agricultural producers, food entrepreneurs, innovators, and founders across the food chain to find answers to common food business, science, and safety questions. Cost-free office hours on specific topics and open Q&A sessions are also valuable resources.
AURI provides industry information to clients via public initiatives, downloadable research reports, guides, or toolkits on its website, and via technical and innovation workshops conducted through our Connects™ program (a small event registration fee may apply).
From time to time, AURI receives grant funds that can be utilized to provide cost-free technical assistance.
| Client-Company Annual Gross Revenue (sales and non-sales cash receipts) | Percentage of Project Cost Paid by Minnesota* Client | Payment Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $1 Million | 20% | Before service is rendered |
| $1 Million – $10 Million | 50% | After service is rendered |
| More than $10 million | 80% | After service is rendered |
* All projects may be subject to a minimum project fee of $250
** Please note that additional equipment/lab fees may be needed (and will be discounted based on the revenue tiers above). AURI project staff will provide guidance on these fees when scoping a project
*** Please note a separate rate table applies for non-Minnesota clients, and is available by request
AURI staff work closely with clients to develop project deliverables and ensure projects are scoped appropriately.
AURI/client projects are research projects with no guarantee of success. If AURI determines the deliverables are not achievable during the lifespan of the project and stops the project, the client may initiate discussions to seek a pro-rated reimbursement.
If the client ends the project due to what they feel is an unattainable result, the client may initiate discussions to determine if a pro-rated refund would apply. Any refund request must be initiated by the client and will be determined on a project by project basis.
AURI is a non-profit corporation providing discounted rates to businesses to help advance their ideas. If a client is not satisfied, with the project outcomes, AURI may refer the company to another entity to meet their needs.
AURI will be clear upfront on expectations of project challenges and timing before beginning a project with a client so that a well-informed decision can be made. Regular discussions between clients and AURI are important during the course of a project to ensure timeliness and deliverable expectations are understood and being met by both AURI and the client.
AURI will consider all of the resources required to meet each client’s unique needs and deliverable(s) to estimate each project’s cost. This could include several variables, but would mainly include the AURI staff time and resources dedicated to the project.
Each client will be billed for their portion of the total project costs according to the tiered framework based on the company’s estimated gross or budgeted revenue which will range from 20 percent of project cost to 100 percent
Project costs will be shared with the client prior to the start of the project.
AURI accepts and prefers payments via major credit cards on its PayPal account, but is open to discussing the use of purchase orders and business checks.
Wait times are dependent upon current workloads and resources available. AURI will be upfront on timing and expectations before a project begins to ensure it can meet the client’s timing needs.
Yes, AURI is open to discussing an ongoing technical services agreement through a defined retainer type model that provides regular monthly payments for agreed upon ongoing technical services.
Our specialized project development professionals will thoroughly discuss AURI’s capabilities and services with each client to determine whether AURI’s services are a fit. If AURI services are not a fit, AURI has a robust referral network to connect with other potential resource providers.