Coagents

Coagents are entities that operate jointly with one or more agents to achieve a common objective. The term appears in several fields with related but distinct meanings, generally implying cooperation, shared responsibility, or a supplemental role that facilitates a primary action.

In law and business, coagents are individuals or organizations appointed to act on behalf of a principal alongside other agents. Coagents may share duties, authority, or decision-making power; their actions can create legal obligations for the principal and, in some contexts, for one another. Questions of scope of authority, fiduciary duty, and liability are governed by agency law and contractual terms.

In chemistry and materials science, coagents are additives that assist or modify a primary reaction without being the principal reactant. Commonly used in polymer chemistry and elastomer vulcanization, coagents enhance crosslinking efficiency, control network structure, and improve mechanical or thermal properties. They are selected for reactivity and compatibility with the polymer matrix.

In computing and artificial intelligence, coagents refer to components in multi-agent systems or coagent networks that learn or act together. Each coagent may have a local policy or objective while contributing to a global outcome; research focuses on coordination, decentralised learning algorithms, and credit assignment among cooperating units.

Across contexts, coagents share the feature of augmenting or complementing primary actors through collaboration or supportive action. The precise legal, technical, or functional implications depend on the domain and the specific arrangements among the parties or components involved.