Co-Create Knowledge for Pharma Innovation with Takeda (COCKPI-T^®) Funding

Background

Under our purpose "Better Health for People, Brighter Future for the World", Takeda actively engages in diverse open innovation initiatives. As one of the key pillars of such activities, we launched an open innovation platform called COCKPI-T^® in Japan in 2015, in which Takeda solicits proposals addressing breakthrough science with relevance to Takeda’s R&D, and provides awarded projects with 1-year funding and the opportunity to work closely with its drug discovery experts, to help external investigators build robust preliminary proof of concept (PoC). Our aspiration is to catalyze the translation of early-stage research into innovative therapeutics or drug discovery platforms, with the ultimate aim to strengthen Takeda’s early pipeline.
We are now pleased to announce Call for Proposals for COCKPI-T^® Funding for the Year 2022, and look forward to receiving applications to join forces with external investigators and together explore therapeutic solutions of the next generation.

Outline

Areas of Interest

Takeda invites proposals addressing novel therapeutic concepts/targets (Therapeutics-oriented Proposals) or emerging technological platforms (Platform Technology-oriented Proposals). Further details can be found at our Areas of Interest page.

Proposal Content

• Ideal proposals should address novel therapeutic targets/concepts or innovative platform technologies within Takeda’s Areas of Interest, based on any non-confidential preliminary data produced by the applicant as well as publicly available data/information
• The rationale for competitive advantage of the proposed research over existing therapeutics or technologies, as well as timelines within the 1-year project term, should be clearly stated

Eligible to Apply

• Any researcher affiliated with a university, research institute or company located in Japan, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand and Taiwan
• Not a recipient of any other private funding which has conflicts with the terms and conditions of COCKPI-T® Funding (Please see below to check the basic terms and conditions)

Timeline

Process

• Submission of non-confidential proposal: 15 Jun to 17:00 JST on 17 Aug 2022
  A proposal is to be prepared by the applicant using the designated Proposal Sheet (max. four pages), based on non-confidential information. The applicant may discuss the application with his/her university administrative staff while he/she is preparing the submission.
  
  
• First selection based on the proposal: to 11 Oct 2022
  Submitted proposals will be reviewed by Takeda and/or Takeda’s affiliate researchers in the relevant research field and will be shortlisted based on strategic fit, innovation and potential contribution to therapeutic research.
  
  
• Interview (video-conference): to Mid Nov 2022
  Following execution of a non-disclosure agreement as needed, an opportunity for a direct scientific discussion between the applicant and Takeda researchers will be set up. The interview will be held either in person, or most probably by video-conference. The COCKPI-T^® Funding winners will be subsequently selected based on the result of the interview within several weeks.
  
  
• Final selection for COCKPI-T^® Funding winners: 29 Nov 2022
  The final winners’ ("Principal Investigators") institution ("Institution") will receive the COCKPI-T^® Funding contract template from Takeda. It will take a few months to finalize the contract. The project will be initiated after contract execution.

Research Term

Approximately one year from contract execution (from the date of contract execution to 31 Mar 2024)

Research Fund*

• Therapeutics-oriented projects: up to JPY 10,000,000 (10M) or equivalent amount (including indirect costs)
• Platform Technology-oriented projects: up to JPY 5,000,000 (5M) or equivalent amount (including indirect costs)

*Takeda decides the amount based on the research plan

How to Apply

Follow the procedure below to make an application.

1. Download Proposal Sheet below, and complete the application based on non-confidential information.
   
   
2. Read and agree with the Terms and Conditions.
   *You can read the Terms and Conditions for an application to COCKPI-T^® Funding below in advance.
   
   
3. Send your Proposal Sheet prepared at Step 1 to COCKPI-T Funding Office (COCKPI-T@takeda.com) by e-mail. Once you submitted your proposal sheet, you will be considered that you have read and agreed to the Terms and Conditions.
   
   
4. Once submission of your application is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation email from COCKPI-T Funding Office at Takeda.

Download the Proposal Sheet

For Therapeutics-oriented proposals

For Platform Technology-oriented proposals

* File Format: docx, doc, pdf File size: up to 5MB

Terms and Conditions for an application to COCKPI-T^® Funding

Basic Terms and Conditions in COCKPI-T^® Funding Research

1. Research Term: approximately one year after contract execution (until 31 Mar 2024)
   
   
2. Funding for the Research Program: Takeda pays Institution a grant of up to JPY 10,000,000 or equivalent amount for therapeutics-oriented projects or JPY 5,000,000 or equivalent amount for platform technology-oriented projects according to the research plan, to support COCKPI-T^® Funding research in whole or in part. Institution shall use, or have Principal Investigator (COCKPI-T^® Funding winner) use, the funding solely for the COCKPI-T^® Funding research (wages, supplies, operating expenses and other expenses as agreed).
   
   
3. Progress Meeting: Takeda may request progress meetings with the Principal Investigator through a site-visit or teleconference on a quarterly basis. Upon completion of the project, the Principal Investigator must submit to Takeda a comprehensive final report within thirty (30) days, which includes all of the results of COCKPI-T^® Funding research and an expense summary.
   
   
4. Research Results: All research results generated in the course of COCKPI-T^® Funding belong to the Institution. In case execution of COCKPI-T^® Funding research was significantly dependent on Takeda’s contribution, Takeda may propose other conditions regarding the intellectual property.
   
   
5. First Negotiation Right: Institution grants to Takeda and/or its affiliates an option to first negotiate with Institution, on an exclusive basis, for an exclusive, worldwide right and license of the research results whether patentable or not and/or the option for further research collaboration pertaining to COCKPI-T^® Funding research results.
   
   
6. Use of the Research Results: Takeda is free to use all the COCKPI-T^® Funding research results for the purpose of Takeda's research and development without payment of additional compensation while the Institution shall have the right to license, transfer and/or sell the research results without Takeda's consent. (For the avoidance of doubt, Takeda is not allowed to use any other research results outside of the COCKPI-T^® Funding research produced by the Institution even if the research results are related to the COCKPI-T^® Funding research)

Frequently Asked Questions HERE