SiNtx Technologies Inc (SINT)

[boston745]

The group that does the actual development is the one that gets the milestone payments. Sonnys research team is simply using Sintx and Zimmer IP. The use of third-party developers when companies are direct competitors is very common however:

At the extreme, Katz (1986) notes that if spillovers are perfect and equal (implying that firms are direct product market competitors) then firms may simply choose to contract out the R&D to a third party, and split the costs evenly. The outsourced R&D mechanism works best when product market rivalry is high because it short circuits the outcome where firms all shirk in equilibrium.

Obviously any arrangement with Sintx requires a less than even split. This is evidenced by Global Dental companies paying for the R&D costs and none of the funds show up on Sintx financials.

A licensing contract typically contains an
up-front payment,
milestone payments at successful completion of a project phase,
and royalties on sales.

Licencing contract would exist between Sonny's Research Team and Sintx/Arthroplasty Partner. Since Zimmer paid a milestone payment in 2017 and its IP is involved its likely the Arthroplasty partner.

I have a materials science research program at the Missouri Science & Technology University in Rolla, MO. My colleague, Prof. Rahaman and I have worked with bioactive ceramic technology, training and preparing many graduate PhD students from around the world. With our colleagues from Kyoto, Japan, we are developing super-tough silicon nitride ceramics for hip and knee replacement

Clearly the program exists outside Sintx and is working with Pezzotti s team developing super-tough Si3N4 specifically for Hips/Knees. This program has to get funded somehow.