Bayer: Opening the door to new ideas!

Bayer is one of the largest and most diverse pharmaceutical companies in the world, being the only global company simultaneously researching improvements in human, animal and plant health. Founded in 1863, the company has over 150 years of experience in innovation.

Collaboration and innovation has a history as long as the company – Bayer opened their doors to the Academic Community in 1868 when scientists were invited from the University of Erlangen to work on an antimalarial drug that would combat malaria in tropical climates. Since then, Bayer has cooperated with over 1,400 universities and institutions around the world. This long history of outside collaboration has brought many beneficial discoveries such as aspirin or Ciprofloxacin.

In recent years, the biotech company has adopted a new approach to R&D, opening its doors to new start-ups and researchers with innovative ideas in addition to academic institutions. A plethora of grants, competitions and programs have led to success stories, including of an Estonian medical technology start-up.

The most well-known of the company’s competitions is probably the Bayer Young Innovator Award and Grants4Indication, which is open to start-ups from all over the world. The award was launched in 2010 to encourage young researchers and innovative companies in their search for new drugs and to support them in getting access to the company’s research facilities. The contest is a straight draw between five independent judges who assess all applicants on their scientific approach and innovation potential. Many of the start-ups that had entered either through their own initiative or through requests from peers have gone onto build their own successful businesses based on their ideas – a few even now continue to work at Bayer.

A second large initiative is the Grants4Apps (G4A) partnership program – another startup accelerator aimed at digital health startups, which provides funding, mentorship and ultimately commercial partnerships to be signed for the winning companies.  The program was launched in September 2014 and has two categories – a “growth track” for pre-seed and Series-A round startups with a minimum viable product and an “advance track” for mature companies for enterprises who have already launched a product in the market.  The growth track offers convertible loans in addition to mentorship and collaboration with industry experts to flesh out the product.

The advance track allows applicants to apply for funding, which can be used for clinical development or commercialization activities. In addition, participants can apply for mentorship agreement with a world class mentor. The partnership agreements are based on revenue sharing on sales of products developed through the collaboration. The goal for Bayer and its partners will be to generate additional value from these products.

Medikeep, an Estonian personalized medicine startup participated in the growth track and was one of the five participants selected to spend three intensive months in Berlin working alongside mentors and experts to develop their product and form an effective business plan to expand worldwide. Medikeep has developed ‘a pharmacy in your pocket’ – a medication management app that allows people to keep track of medication taken by themselves and their family members. The app also helps users keep an inventory of the contents of their home medicine cabinets.

If the interests align more with direct pharmaceutical development, then the Grants4Targets and Pharma Tech Scouting programs hit that mark. It offers both startups and academics support to both validate pharmaceutical targets and test the hypothesis. In addition, monetary grants are available, with intellectual property rights remaining in the hands of the applicant. The idea is to let drug companies pick up developments from the program participants instead of having to pay large sums up front. The financial risk is also much lower for both parties – the research institutions and startups.

If lab space and equipment is a concern or need, then Bayer has a solution for that as well – the CoLaborator program. They offer a dynamic incubator and lab space that is close to the company’s own research facilities, with access to multiple lab and office spaces alongside their global research expertise.

Lastly, any ideas to improve existing products, be that in formulation, packaging, online services or medical devices are also welcomed by the company. Under the Partnerships in Consumer Health program startups and innovators are welcomed by Bayer to submit their ideas and proposals and can be eligible for a range of benefits. These include research & partnering opportunities with the company, licensing agreements or funding, depending on the project.

Indeed, as Bayer is expanding its presence in Estonia in order to participate more in the society and contribute to the healthcare system, the sky’s the limit when it comes to possibilities to innovate and collaborate.