Over the next five years, pharmaceutical companies, researchers from Aarhus University and four new partner universities can work together to create a knowledge base for future drugs by collaborating openly, freely and without restrictive patent rules. Subsequently, the results of the projects will be made available to the public.

"The open innovation model has exceeded all of our expectations"

The ODIN project has turned out to be such a good idea that Aarhus University and a number of international pharmaceutical companies have agreed to continue their collaboration, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation has decided to invest up to DKK 180 million in the project.

“Our 11 funded projects have already opened up new research avenues; they’re preparing more than 40 publications, and they’re planning a series of follow-on innovation projects, where the involved companies and researchers will mature the open results towards specific commercial applications in closed settings. ODIN has even spun out a new company. Needless to say, the open innovation model has exceeded all of our expectations,” says Marie Louise Conradsen, who is head of ODIN at Aarhus University.

Data and results will be available to everyone

There will be no negotiations on rights in the ODIN collaboration, and the results from the ODIN projects will be made freely available to the public.

"These are open, patent-free collaborations, although obviously they’re established within a clear legal framework. The openness of results philosophy is at the very heart of ODIN, because it means the results can be used in other contexts, thereby creating more value and ultimately better health for all," says Dean of Health Anne-Mette Hvas.

No end goal

Professors Lene Niemann Nejsum and Rikke Nørregaard from the Department of Clinical Medicine conduct research into chronic kidney diseases.

"All the input we received throughout the process has been invaluable"

They have contributed to the ODIN collaboration through the FRIGG research project, and their ambition is to pave the way for new treatment strategies.

"We didn't have a specific end-goal for the project when we started – although this is often the case in collaborations between universities and industry. The project became more exploratory and evolved along the way, and all the input we received throughout the process has been invaluable. It’s been a very positive experience, and we’ve benefitted greatly from the collaboration," says Lene Niemann Nejsum.

Future focus on drug discovery, improved diagnostics and technology platforms

Over the next five years, ODIN will mainly focus on drug discovery and improved diagnostics of cardiovascular, cardiometabolic and infectious diseases. ODIN will also focus on technology platforms that can provide benefits across different diseases.

"ODIN provides a unique opportunity for researchers and companies to work together on complex problems that they wouldn’t be able to solve on their own – but they can solve in collaboration with others," says Anne-Mette Hvas about being able to draw on many great minds from different disciplines and companies.

Help available for interested researchers and companies

Through a combination of digital ideation and personalised matchmaking, the parties in ODIN will receive help to present their research needs and ideas and to find a match between industrial research challenges and university competencies and knowledge.

"We’ll help any interested researchers and companies showcase their challenges and ideas – and find the right partners and input for what hopefully will become our next ODIN projects,” says Marie Louise Conradsen.

The first round of applications is expected to open in May. The ODIN Secretariat will carry out information meetings at all partner universities and have a number of ideation events until the call deadline in late autumn.

ODIN expands the global network

Over the next five years, ODIN will expand its national and global network. The other four major Danish universities will be partners, and several large pharmaceutical companies as well as smaller biotech and service companies are already on board.

"The framework has been effective in fostering high-risk, high-reward research projects"

Other universities, knowledge institutions, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies worldwide can participate in ODIN projects as co-applicants.

“We’ve seen an incredible level of interest from both sectors, and the framework has been effective in fostering high-risk, high-reward research projects that are driven by real-world needs to an extent we don’t usually see in our other collaboration models. It’s great that ODIN can continue this work for the next five years," says Marie Louise Conradsen.

Coverage is based on press material from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Contact

Head of Open Science Marie Louise Conradsen
Aarhus University, Open Innovation in Science Centre
Mobile: (+45) 93 50 84 96
Email: mlco@au.dk