Got questions about opnMe®?

opnMe® is built on three collaborative pillars: Molecules for collaboration, opn2EXPERTS for molecular biology or pharmacology questions and techMATCH for technology partnerships. With all our collaborative opportunities, our goal is expand our scientific network with experts from across the world that provide novel and relevant angles to contemporary research questions.

We welcome proposals from scientists around the world with very different backgrounds from either academia, startups, biotechs, or even larger enterprises such as device or pharmaceutical companies. We expect you to have access to a laboratory setting for carrying out the studies you propose in your submission and the ability to implement those ideas. We can also only accept proposals if they are provided using our respective submission templates.

You can expect appropriate funding for the collaboration period, should your proposal become selected by our review team. The funding would cover direct and indirect costs, and should be within the range that is defined for each individual call. Usually, you should expect funding for a maximum period of two years. Please refer to the specific calls’ sections for guidance on the exact funding amounts and other benefits offered.

For techMATCH calls, winning proposals can expect appropriate funding that will help them to bring their conceptual idea to the next level whereby we assume that increasing complexity and maturity of the proposed solution may require different budget terms that would be negotiated with the selected partners individually.

Mutually agreeable partner rights & obligations (including intellectual property rights) will be negotiated in our collaboration agreements and provide full transparency on IP ownership. As part of the agreement, you will be encouraged to publish following the collaboration agreement (to be negotiated in good faith).

We highly recommend using our answer submission template to provide a 3-4-page non-confidential proposal plus potential references. The document consists of a “general” part that requires the contact details of the submitting scientist(s) and their organization(s). In addition, an “answer part” which allows the structured entry of your suggested approach to address our question.

While evaluating each proposal, our scientific review committees consider how it aligns with the in-scope/out-of-scope criteria and key success criteria outlined in detail for each call on opnMe, including:

• A well-structured proposal outlining a new and compelling scientific idea.
• A novel, testable working hypothesis distinct from those previously published.
• Framing the questions and the innovation aspects that includes a well thought-through project plan with key decision points and budget requirements.
• Proven record of accomplishment in the required field of expertise.
• Outlining the technical feasibility of the innovative proposed approach.
• The quality and feasibility of potentially existing data and/or the experimental plan that will be used to test the hypothesis.
• Ability to carry out the proposed project and access to required technology and laboratory settings.

• Privileged access to highly characterized and cutting-edge pharmacology molecules
• Direct support from experienced Boehringer Ingelheim drug discovery scientists
• Initial enabling funding might be available with the potential for follow-on collaborations
• Possibility of publishing novel connections of biological mechanisms to human disease using unique reagents

We release these compounds for specific projects to test novel therapeutic hypotheses. The proposals are evaluated by Boehringer Ingelheim scientists and the selected ideas are normally pursued through a joint collaboration. Initial proposals should be short and address the following areas to allow rapid evaluation of your ideas. The submitted proposal must not contain any confidential data.

• Overview of the proposal originator and the organization(s) it represents
• Medical need
• Scientific rationale [supported by key references]
• Target-to-disease link
• Therapeutic hypothesis to be tested
• Test systems available and information on their suitability
• Key decision-making data to support project progression
• Projected timelines to decision points
  A graphical representation of the experimental plan
• Information on potential conflicting intellectual property rights of third parties and freedom to operate
• Initial funding request

A template provided by us will help you to compile the information required.

If confidential data exists that would strengthen the proposal, you may indicate that confidential information is available to share under a Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA). If we find the non‐confidential concept proposal sufficiently interesting, we will execute a CDA for confidential discussions.

Funding is potentially available to kick-start projects. Research proposals are evaluated by Boehringer Ingelheim scientists for strategic fit and are considered for funding on a competitive basis.

Boehringer Ingelheim scientists with relevant expertise will make an initial evaluation of your collaboration proposal within six to eight weeks. Should there be mutual interest in proceeding with the compound request, you will usually be contacted by a Boehringer Ingelheim scientist to discuss the research plan in more detail and to understand how we can best support your idea. The timeframe for collaboration start will be different for each collaboration.

Yes, molecules that you would obtain as part of the “Molecules for collaboration” pillar of opnMe.com will be provided free of charge in the amounts required to conduct your planned experiments. This means we cover the costs of synthesis and shipping up to your bench. For shipments outside of Europe, we have to provide a pro-forma value for our molecules to meet international customs regulations. The value of 0,56 €/mg is declared for customs purpose only. Please note that local custom fees may apply and we advise you to check with your local authorities. In case of questions, please contact us for further information.

Sufficient compound will be provided to test the new therapeutic concept as outlined in the agreed research plan.

The IP rights will be pre-negotiated as part of the contracting arrangements between Boehringer Ingelheim and your institution.

These molecules are also released with a comprehensive data package describing potency on designated target, selectivity information versus other targets and pharmacokinetic characterization. In the first instance, these structures are not released. This allows us to make unique compounds from ongoing projects available to the community much earlier than has previously been possible.

These tool compounds highly characterized with respect to potency, selectivity and pharmacokinetics. They are suitable for in vivo preclinical studies and guidelines are available to advise on species previously tested, dose selection, dose regimen, and formulation.

No. We aim to make unique tool compounds available at a very early stage as the biology is evolving; hence, the compounds will not have been subject to a comprehensive safety evaluation. They are provided as experimental tools for in vitro and in vivo studies and should be treated appropriately according to the practices within your institute.

If you would like to modify and re-upload your proposal, the easiest way would be to start a new submission process and submit your updated proposal that way. Please let us know of the initial proposal ID that you would like to retract, so we can delete it accordingly from our system and only consider your updated proposal for the evaluation process.

• Scientists within Boehringer Ingelheim Discovery Research define the individual questions. We plan to share either biological or technical questions for only a short period of time during which we invite scientific experts from around the world to submit novel solutions and apply with a collaboration proposal.
• After this period, questions may remain published on opnMe.com. This is to allow scientists to contact us also at a later stage, should they come up with innovative ideas.
• The questions may have a strong practical component. Hence practical laboratory experience and access to a laboratory may be required in most instances in order to be selected as a winner of a call.

• You can expect appropriate funding for the subsequent collaboration with us, should your proposed answer be selected by our research teams. The funding would cover direct and indirect costs. Please refer to the specific calls for the funding amount or partnership details.
• Close interaction and support from experienced Boehringer Ingelheim drug discovery scientists.
• The opportunity for a funded stay at Boehringer Ingelheim for technology exchange / training may be available, as is the access to custom biological tools and reagents.
• Our collaboration agreement will provide full transparency about each partner’s rights & obligations (including intellectual property rights).
• As part of the agreement, you will be encouraged to publish according to the collaboration agreement (to be negotiated in good faith).
• The winner may be announced publicly in social networks and on the opnMe.com website.

• We highly recommend using our answer submission template to provide a 2-3 page non-confidential proposal plus potential references. The document consists of a “general” part that requires the contact details of the submitting scientists and their organizations. In addition, an “answer part” which allows the structured entry of your suggested approach to address our question.
• The scientist with the right answer may bring a specific technical expertise in his or her discipline that provides an answer to our question from a different, potentially unexpected angle. Hence, the scientific background might be different from the area of the question. Your expertise should be documented by key references and publications.
• Experts not directly linked to the subject or the field of the therapeutic domain are also highly encouraged to apply if they consider their solutions new or innovative for the question.
• Active access to a laboratory and the ability to implement the idea is required for this question.

Our aim is to find scientists with a novel idea to address our questions. We offer funding for collaboration with the winning scientists of our call.

All incoming answers are evaluated by Boehringer Ingelheim scientists and the selected ideas are normally pursued through a joint collaboration. Initial answers should be short and address the following areas to allow rapid evaluation of your ideas. The submitted proposal must not contain any confidential data. The following information is highly encouraged

• Title of the innovative idea
• Rephrasing of the question to be solved and outline of the answer including innovative aspects
• Information about potentially existing test systems and preliminary data
• Proposed collaboration project plan with key decision points
• Initial funding request
• Information on potential conflicting intellectual property rights of third parties and freedom to operate
• References

A template provided by us will help you to compile the information required.

We are seeking research collaboration proposals that contain:

• A well-structured proposal outlining a new and compelling scientific idea.
• A novel, testable working hypothesis distinct from those previously published.
• Framing the questions and the innovation aspects that includes a well thought-through project plan with key decision points and budget requirements.
• Proven record of accomplishment in the required field of expertise.
• Outlining the technical feasibility of the innovative proposed approach.
• The quality and feasibility of potentially existing data and/or the experimental plan that will be used to test the hypothesis.

If confidential data exists that would strengthen the proposal, you may indicate that confidential information is available to share under a Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA). If we find the non-confidential concept proposal sufficiently interesting, we will execute a CDA for confidential discussions.

You can expect appropriate funding for the collaboration period should your proposal become selected by our review team. The maximum budget for funding or partnership details are outlined in each call specifically.

Boehringer Ingelheim scientists with relevant expertise will provide you with an evaluation of your collaboration proposal within 6 weeks after the submission deadline of the individual question. Should there be mutual interest in proceeding with the proposed answer, you would be contacted by a Boehringer Ingelheim scientist to discuss the research plan in more detail and to understand how we can best support your idea. The timeframe for the start of a collaboration may be different for each collaboration.

No. Applications will be shared inside Boehringer Ingelheim amongst a team of scientists designated to evaluate proposals for potential funding. They will not be visible to, or shared with, scientists from other institutions.

Our collaboration agreement will provide full transparency about each partner’s rights & obligations (including intellectual property rights). As part of the agreement, you will be encouraged to publish following the collaboration agreement (to be negotiated in good faith).

If you would like to modify and re-upload your proposal, the easiest way would be to start a new submission process and submit your updated proposal that way. Please let us know of the initial proposal ID that you would like to retract, so we can delete it accordingly from our system and only consider your updated proposal for the evaluation process.

• Scientists within Boehringer Ingelheim define individual questions focused on advancing more sustainable approaches across medicines research, development, and production. Each call for proposals is shared for a limited period, during which we invite scientific experts from around the world to submit novel solutions and apply with a non-confidential collaboration proposal that can deliver tangible results within 12 months.
• After the submission period, questions may remain published on opnMe.com. This allows scientists to contact us at a later stage if they develop innovative ideas relevant to the question.
• The questions may have a strong practical component and can address different sustainability challenges. Relevant practical experience, access to suitable experimental infrastructure, and the ability to generate tangible results within 12 months are expected.

• The winner of a More Green call can expect appropriate funding for the intended collaboration period. The exact funding request should be outlined in the proposal and, as a framework, should be structured by milestones and should not exceed USD 95,000. Upon completion of the project, the actual project costs will be reconciled against the estimated expenses, and any unused funds should be returned to us. If the actual expenses exceed the estimated expenses in the project budget, we will not be liable to pay the difference.
• All results and all IP therein generated by the researcher will be jointly owned by the researcher´s institute and Boehringer Ingelheim. Each party may freely use the results, without further obligations to the other party. At the same time, we suggest that the parties agree that in order to contribute to the advancement of science for the benefit of the public and to allow the scientific community and industry to use any results following joint publication, they will abstain from pursuing exclusive intellectual property protection with respect to any results. In particular, neither party shall file for a patent right pertaining to any results anywhere in the world and in any field.
• As part of the agreement, you will be asked to publish your results in a peer-reviewed technical journal within 6 months after the successful conclusion of the work. Each publication prepared in connection with this grant shall make acknowledgement in the following manner: “This manuscript was funded by Boehringer Ingelheim’s Sustainable Medicines Grant program, whose intent is to enable sustainable medicines for patients.”

• We highly recommend using our answer submission template to provide a 2–3 page non-confidential proposal plus potential references. The document consists of a general part for the contact details of the submitting scientists and their organizations, as well as an answer part for a structured description of your proposed approach to address our question.
• The scientist with the right answer may bring specific technical expertise that addresses our question from a different, potentially unexpected angle. The scientific background may therefore differ from the immediate field of the question, but relevant expertise should be documented by key references and publications.
• Experts not directly linked to the subject or the field of the therapeutic domain are also highly encouraged to apply if they consider their solutions new or innovative for the question.
• Active access to a laboratory or suitable experimental infrastructure and the ability to implement the proposed idea within 12 months are required, unless stated otherwise in the individual call profile.

Our aim is to find scientists with a novel idea to address our questions. We offer funding for collaboration with the winning scientists of our call.

All incoming answers are evaluated by Boehringer Ingelheim scientists, and selected ideas are normally pursued through a joint collaboration. Initial answers should be concise and address the following areas to allow rapid evaluation. The submitted proposal must not contain any confidential data. The following information is highly encouraged:

• Title of the innovative idea
• Rephrasing of the question to be solved and outline of the proposed answer, including the innovative aspects
• Information about potentially existing test systems and preliminary data
• Proposed collaboration project plan with milestones, key decision points, and clear Go/No-Go criteria
• Initial funding request
• Information on potential conflicting intellectual property rights of third parties and freedom to operate
• References

A template provided by us will help you to compile the information required.

We are seeking research collaboration proposals that contain:

• A well-structured proposal outlining a new and compelling scientific idea.
• A novel, testable working hypothesis distinct from those previously published.
• A clear framing of the question and innovation aspects, including a well thought-through project plan with key decision points and budget requirements.
• A proven record of accomplishment in the relevant field of expertise.
• Outlining the technical feasibility of the innovative proposed approach.
• The quality and feasibility of potentially existing data and/or the experimental plan that will be used to test the hypothesis.
• For More Green calls, the submitted idea should be implementable within the timeframe stated in the individual call profile, typically within 12 months.

If confidential data exists that would strengthen the proposal, you may indicate that confidential information is available to share under a Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA). If we find the non-confidential concept proposal sufficiently interesting, we will execute a CDA for confidential discussions.

Funding is available for selected More Green opn2EXPERTS proposals. The exact funding request should be outlined in the proposal and, as a framework, should be structured by milestones and should not exceed USD 95,000. The funding request should include all direct, indirect, and overhead costs. Upon completion of the project, the actual project costs will be reconciled against the estimated expenses, and any unused funds should be returned to us. If the actual expenses exceed the estimated expenses in the project budget, we will not be liable to pay the difference.

Boehringer Ingelheim scientists with relevant expertise will evaluate your collaboration proposal within approximately 8 weeks after the submission deadline of the individual question. If there is mutual interest in proceeding with the proposed answer, you will be contacted to discuss the research plan in more detail and to understand how we can best support your idea. The evaluation timeline and the timeframe for the start of a collaboration may differ for each call and collaboration and will be specified in the individual call profile.

No. Applications will be shared inside Boehringer Ingelheim amongst a team of scientists designated to evaluate proposals for potential funding. They will not be visible to, or shared with, scientists from other institutions.

All results and all IP therein generated by the researcher will be jointly owned by the researcher’s institute and Boehringer Ingelheim. Each party may freely use the results without further obligations to the other party. At the same time, we suggest that the parties agree that, in order to contribute to the advancement of science for the benefit of the public and to allow the scientific community and industry to use any results following joint publication, they will abstain from pursuing exclusive intellectual property protection with respect to any results. In particular, neither party shall file for a patent right pertaining to any results anywhere in the world and in any field.

If you would like to modify and re-upload your proposal, the easiest way would be to start a new submission process and submit your updated proposal that way. Please let us know of the initial proposal ID that you would like to retract, so we can delete it accordingly from our system and only consider your updated proposal for the evaluation process.

With techMATCH on opnMe, we invite solutions with a focus on technology to propel drug discovery and development forward. We unite your brilliance with our expertise through focused calls on engineering and technology as part of this program. We welcome game-changing ideas from academia, startups, biotech, and larger corporations. Winners will benefit from a long-term, collaborative partnership, that provides open access to our expertise and the prospect of research funding. For biological or pharmacological topics, please consult our opn2EXPERTS program.

We welcome proposals from scientists around the world with very different backgrounds from either academia, startups, biotechs, or even larger enterprises such as device or pharmaceutical companies. As part of these calls, we invite you as an expert to propose concepts that clearly go beyond currently available as well as emerging solutions and envision a breakthrough.

Your proposed idea should cover at least a conceptional outline or prototype that you plan to move forward towards clinical readiness.

• Benefit from a close interaction and direct support from our scientific and technological experts
• Have a chance for tailored benefit packages that will help you as a winner of this call to reach the next step towards clinical readiness of your proposed technological approach
• Access appropriate funding whereby we assume that increasing complexity and maturity of the proposed solution may require different budget terms that would be negotiated with the selected partners in good faith
• Benefit from an additional range of possibilities to support you besides funding. Examples are engineering capabilities for design reviews, including a strong connection to patient insights, prototyping or pharmacokinetics studies with a range of relevant molecules
• Have full transparency on mutually agreeable partner rights & obligations (including intellectual property rights)
• You may find it beneficial to announce your partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim. Depending on the conditions of the agreement and mutual needs, we would be open for such an arrangement.
• You would be encouraged to publish according to the collaboration agreement (to be negotiated in good faith).

We highly recommend using our answer submission template to provide a short non-confidential proposal plus potential references. The document consists of a “general” part that requires the contact details of the submitting scientists and their organizations. In addition, an “answer part” which allows the structured entry of your suggested approach to address our question.

Submissions must only contain non-confidential data and should ideally be short, addressing the following areas to allow rapid evaluation of your idea:

• Rephrasing of the question to be solved and outline of the answer including addressed hurdles and innovative aspects
• Assessment on maturity of the proposed solution
• Proposed collaboration project plan with key decision points by focusing on reaching the next decision point or milestone towards clinical readiness
• Initial funding request covering a timeframe of 1-2 years
• Information on potential conflicting intellectual property rights of third parties and freedom to operate
• References (optional)

A template provided by us will help you to compile the information required.

• The proposed solution should demonstrate a high level of innovation and originality, offering a novel approach. It should aim to be implemented clinically and address the in-scope and out-of-scope criteria of the call.
• The successful solutions will focus on a clear hypothesis and how anticipated hurdles in conjunction with the proposed novel approach will be overcome.
•  A successful proposal will have a clear outline of the required funding budget and a time plan where it should be assumed that Boehringer Ingelheim would fund the next step towards proof-of-concept of the proposed novel technological solution for drug delivery.
• If required, the successful proposal will be well structured in milestones and planned with key decision points (clear go/no-go criteria).
• A mitigation plan is included to overcome the anticipated hurdles that also includes a contingency plan in case one approach may not lead to the desired outcome.
• An ideal solution will discuss how the acceptance of the proposed sustainable drug delivery solution and potentially required behavior changes can be increased for relevant stakeholders including physicians, regulatory bodies, payers, and in particular patients.
• An assessment of the expected net environmental impact is included.
• Indication on cost-of-goods, including projected cost-breakdown, scalability and manufacturability to high production volumes is a plus.
• Information regarding intellectual property / third party infringement used in the context of the submission.
• Successful proposals will be supported by scientific teams who bring in a proven track record in the required field of expertise.
• The access to relevant infrastructure to implement the proposed solution is a prerequisite of a collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim.

If confidential data exists that would strengthen the proposal, you may indicate that confidential information is available to share under a Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA). If we find the non-confidential concept proposal sufficiently interesting, we will execute a CDA for confidential discussions.

Winning proposals should expect appropriate funding that will help them to bring their conceptual idea to the next level whereby we assume that increasing complexity and maturity of the proposed solution may require different budget terms that would be negotiated with the selected partners in good faith.

Our scientific jury that comprises of technology experts of Boehringer Ingelheim will provide you with an evaluation of your collaboration proposal after the review process is completed approximately six to eight weeks after the final submission date as outlined on our individual calls. Should there be mutual interest in proceeding with the proposed answer, you would be contacted by us to discuss your proposal in more detail and to understand how we can best support your idea.

No. Applications will be shared inside Boehringer Ingelheim amongst a team of scientists designated to evaluate proposals for potential partnerships. They will not be visible to, or shared with, scientists from other institutions.

Mutually agreeable partner rights & obligations (including intellectual property rights) will be negotiated in our collaboration agreement and provide full transparency. As part of the agreement, you will be encouraged to publish following the collaboration agreement (to be negotiated in good faith).