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

Updated on 3rd June 2024
COCKPI-T^® Funding 2024 Call for Proposal has been released.

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 2024, and look forward to receiving applications to join forces with external investigators and together explore therapeutic solutions of the next generation.

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, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand
• 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

Selection Process

• Submission of non-confidential proposal: 3 Jun to 17:00 JST on 30 Jul 2024

  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 10 Sep 2024

  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 Oct 2024

  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 Oct 2024

  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.

How to Apply

Follow the procedure below to make an application.

1. Download the Proposal Sheet below, and complete the application based on non-confidential information.
2. Click "Submit to COCKPI-T^® Funding". To proceed with the submission, you must agree with the Terms and Conditions that will be presented to you. Once you have agreed with them, click “I ACCEPT”.
3. Complete the Application Form with your Proposal Sheet prepared at Step1, then click "SUBMIT". After submission, your browser will show “Submission Completed” screen and you will receive a confirmation email.

Download the Proposal Sheet

• File Format: docx, doc File Size: up to 5MB
  

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

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

1. Research Term: approximately one year after contract execution
   
   
2. Funding for the Research Program: Takeda pays Institution a grant of up to JPY13M or equivalent amount 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. (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