Feb 05, 2019

The 1st Japan Open Innovation Prize: Four Parties including Osaka University Win the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for “University-Industry Co-creation from the Basic Research Stage -Collaboration between Organizations-”

Summary

Osaka and Tokyo, February 5, 2019 -- Osaka University (President: Shojiro Nishi, hereafter “Osaka University”) and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Tatsuro Kosaka, hereafter “Chugai”), Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (President: Tatsuo Higuchi, hereafter “Otsuka”), and Daikin Industries, Ltd. (Representative Director & President CEO: Masanori Togawa, hereafter “Daikin”) announced today that they won the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award at the 1st Japan Open Innovation Prize sponsored by the Cabinet Office for “University-Industry Co-creation from the Basic Research Stage -Collaboration between Organizations-.”

While global competition for innovation has been intensifying in recent years, open innovation which promotes new initiatives by integrating knowledge, technologies, and management resources beyond organizational barriers is becoming increasingly important for speedy implementation of results from research and development activities to the real world in order to resolve social needs as well as to create new values. Furthermore, not only government-industry-academia collaboration but also collaboration among a wide range of entities is required amid significant changes in the innovation process in science and technology brought by advanced and complicated needs as well as emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data analyses. Under such circumstances, the Japan Open Innovation Prize was launched aiming at appreciating most leading and original initiatives expected to be used as future role models to further promote open innovations in Japan.

Ministers’ awards are given on a field basis by each relevant government ministry and agency, in addition to Chairpersons' awards by economic organizations and academic societies. The summary of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award of the 1st Japan Open Innovation Prize that the four parties have received is as follows;

Prize Name Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award
(given to individuals or groups whose outstanding initiatives have been appreciated in light of development of science and technology/academic research)
Theme “University - Industry Co-creation from the Basic Research Stage -Collaboration between Organizations-”
Prize Winner Osaka University, Chugai, Otsuka, and Daikin
Summary Aim at seamlessly bridging unique basic research produced by a group of excellent researchers to applied research under the comprehensive partnership. Implement useful research results to the real world as results of the joint research between the university and company, while maintaining the environment where researchers can concentrate on basic research based on their unique and original ideas.
Objective To allow the university to stably manage basic research from a long-term perspective such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), not for short-term issues, with funds by the companies intended for basic research activities. To realize long-term open innovation by combining comprehensive intelligence offered by the university and technologies provided by the companies.
Description In the drug discovery field (Chugai and Otsuka), the world-leading immunological research has been conducted from the basic research stage with funding from the companies. Taking advantage of very high research performance and a wide range of company-owned technologies related to drug discovery, they aim to create social values through world-class research findings. In the field of information (Daikin), creation of new values is expect by combining ideas/enthusiasm generated by young researchers recruited from all over the world and expertise provided by the company.
Commendation Ceremony Date: from 15:30 to 19:00 (tentative), March 5 (Tue.), 2019 (A party is to be held after the commendation ceremony.)
Venue: Hall B, Mori Tower 4F, Tranomon Hills (Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Program: Awarding of each prize, speeches by prize winners, and comments on selection, etc.

Message from Hisafumi Okabe, Chugai’s Executive Vice President in charge of Research and Translational Research

“This recognition is an exceptional honor for us. Chugai strives to develop hand in hand with society through creation of innovative drugs and services. Partnerships like external collaborations and venture investments are increasingly important to foster innovation. We are committed to promote our activities with Osaka University as a partner for university-industry co-creation, aiming to deliver new social value through new innovation.”

Contact:

  • For Media
  • Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
  • Media Relations Group, Corporate Communications Dept.,
  • Tel: +81-3-3273-0881
  • E-mail: pr@chugai-pharm.co.jp
  • For Investors
  • Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
  • Investor Relations Group, Corporate Communications Dept.,
  • Tel: +81-3-3273-0554
  • E-mail: ir@chugai-pharm.co.jp
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