A committee of Nissan’s board is set to meet next week to consider proposals from Renault to address a sticking point in talks to restructure the alliance between the two auto makers, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

Specifically, Nissan directors will consider proposals from Renault on how the Japanese auto maker’s technology and intellectual property would be protected as Renault restructures, an issue that has been a concern for the Japanese company, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the talks remain private.

Renault and Nissan declined to comment.

The two auto makers had readied plans to announce a potential deal on a restructured tie-up last month but failed to reach terms. The two sides have been in intensive negotiations since October when Renault CEO Luca De Meo went to Japan to meet Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida.

Renault is looking for Nissan to invest in an electric-vehicle business it will carve out of its operations, while Nissan wants Renault to sell most its 43 per cent stake in Nissan to put the 23-year alliance on a more equal footing, Reuters has previously reported.

If Renault’s proposals address Nissan’s concerns about its technology, the two sides would be closer to an agreement on the framework for a restructured partnership, although key issues remain, including Nissan’s potential investment in Renault’s new electric vehicle (EV) business, code-named Ampere, the sources said.

The involvement of Nissan board members in reviewing specific proposals from its French partner also represents progress and a sign that working-level negotiations are shifting toward higher-level approval, one of the people said.

The details of Renault’s proposed protections for Nissan technology were not immediately known. It was also not immediately clear how many directors on Nissan’s 12-member board, which includes Uchida, would be involved in the meeting set for next week.

Renault has separately negotiated a non-binding agreement with Chinese auto maker Geely to launch a new joint venture that would supply combustion engines and hybrid technologies to both brands and potentially other auto makers.