As international competition over the creation of innovation intensifies, a major challenge is how to quickly implement the results of research and development in society, leading to the resolution of social needs and the creation of new value.As a method for achieving this, attention is being paid to open innovation, which combines knowledge, technology, and management resources across organizational boundaries to promote new initiatives.

In light of this situation, and in order to further promote open innovation in Japan, the Japan Open Innovation Prize has been established to recognize highly pioneering and original initiatives that are expected to serve as future role models.

The awards will recognize exemplary open innovation initiatives, those with significant social impact, and those with sustainability, with awards in the form of Minister's Awards, Chancellor's Awards, and Chairperson's Awards from economic and academic organizations in each field. The most outstanding of each award will also be presented with the Prime Minister's Award.

(Reference) Japan Open Innovation Prize website
https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/openinnovation/prize/

Details of the Award

[Research topic]

Research and development of anti-COVID-19 drugs through collaboration between academia and industry and their social implementation

[Award winner]

Hirofumi Sawa (Director and Distinguished Professor, Vaccine Research and Development Center, Hokkaido University)
Yasuko Oba (Professor, International Joint Research Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University)
Michihito Sasaki (Associate Professor, International Joint Research Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University)
Akihiko Sato (Chief Researcher, Drug Discovery and Disease Research Institute, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. / Visiting Professor, Hokkaido University)
Takahiro Sanagi (Senior Researcher, Drug Discovery and Disease Research Institute, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.)

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