Application Process

Any Principal Investigator (PI) employed at a Partner Academic/Research Institution may apply to 65LAB. Any post-doc or research scientist who is contracted to be employed by the Academic/Research Institution for at least the expected duration of a funded project may also apply with a letter of support from a PI. If in doubt, please contact the Academic/ Research Institution’s Innovation & Enterprise Office (IEO) or Evotec’s Expert in Residence (EIR) Stephen Hess.

Project proposals are evaluated by the 65LAB Joint Steering Committee, which comprises representatives from 65Lab investors and Evotec. Proposals are evaluated on the scientific data, developmental feasibility, and commercial potential. Approved projects are provided funding to demonstrate feasibility and reach proof-of-concept in 18 to 24 months.

The Evotec EIR is intended to be a valuable resource for scientific investigators wishing to seek initial feedback on the suitability of a project idea for 65LAB, or consult a drug discovery expert on how to best shape and plan projects. The remit of the EIR is to add value across the Partner Academic/Research Institutions’ drug discovery activities, to help identify and position new applications and to work in a highly integrated fashion with academic partners as well as other 65LAB stakeholders to ensure the smooth operation of the collaboration.

Successful applicants will benefit from financial support for their projects, as well as the combined technical and commercial expertise and networks of the 65LAB investors and Evotec in building and implementing early-stage drug discovery and development programmes across a wide range of modalities and disease areas. If a funded programme is selected for further development and inclusion in a future spinout, the 65LAB investors, Evotec and your respective Innovation & Enterprise Office (IEO) will provide strategic guidance and governance in preparing the commercial and scientific plans. 65LAB investors could form the syndicate to lead and/or participate in the spinout’s initial and subsequent financing rounds.

Partnership with external collaborators does not necessarily preclude an application to 65LAB, but applicants should work with their respective Innovation & Enterprise Office (IEO) who, prior to submission of the proposal for consideration, will perform due diligence to ensure that an application does not conflict with any 3rd party rights.

Prior receipt of proof-of-concept funding from external or internal sources does not preclude an application, but such funding should be disclosed in an application and discussed with your respective Innovation & Enterprise Office (IEO) to ensure eligibility.

The majority of work associated with a funded project is expected to be undertaken at Evotec’s facilities, in order to leverage their state-of-the-art drug discovery platforms. However project funding aims to recognize the respective expertise and unique capabilities of both Evotec and the scientific investigator partner, and the allocation of work packages for a funded project will ultimately be determined on a case-by-case basis that plays to each partner’s strengths. Funding will be tranched against milestones as it is not intended to support significant ongoing salary costs in Academic/Research Institutions. Please note that costs for Academic/Research Institution work and relevant overheads are determined in accordance with institutional policies and practices.

All 65LAB partners, including the Expert in Residence, are under a duty of confidentiality regarding information disclosed to them in the course of the partnership. However, information which is subject to a duty of confidentiality to a 3rd party should not be disclosed to 65LAB; for example, where research results have been generated from a project with a commercial sponsor. If in doubt, researchers should check with their respective IEO before disclosing information.

The Expert in Residence (EIR) will appoint a dedicated project manager at Evotec to work closely with the PI during the lifetime of any awarded project. The PI, supported by the EIR, will be responsible for providing regular 6-monthly updates on the project to a Project Committee, comprising representatives of the respective Academic/Research Institution and industry partners, as well as raising any potential issues to the EIR or Project Committee. Upon the completion of the project, the PI must provide a full report, using a standard 65LAB template. Any decisions on further investment will be dependent upon achieving predefined milestones set and communicated by the Joint Steering Committee. The 65LAB Project Committee and EIR will monitor progress and decide accordingly if awards should be tranched.

A successful applicant is expected to champion the project and play an active role in guiding and managing the scientific development of the project in collaboration with the Evotec team. Throughout the project, the applicant will benefit from exposure to industry best practices in drug discovery and development processes.

Projects will be favoured where there is an underlying platform element to generate multiple applications and/or therapeutic assets, but proof of concept over the course of the 65LAB project will need to be achieved with a specific therapeutic candidate.

65LAB is focused on early-stage therapeutic technologies, and thus will not support clinical-stage projects. It is not intended to provide funding for academics’ salaries over an extended period of time. 65LAB will support projects that have a clear translational outcome, which may include some basic research projects if they are designed to generate investable data sets or result in the formation of new companies.

All foreground IP generated under a funded project will vest in the relevant Partner Academic/Research Institution.

The 65LAB co-investors receive an option to negotiate the formation of a new spinout company into which the project foreground IP (and any identified background IP) is licensed. To enable transactional efficiency if the option is exercised, the key terms for new company formation and the associated license have been pre-agreed between the 65LAB co-investors, Evotec and each Partner Academic/Research Institution. Applicants can approach their respective Innovation & Enterprise Offices (IEOs) for more information.

In this event, the Partner Academic/Research Institution is free to use the 65LAB foreground IP, subject to a pre-defined revenue share with the co-investors should the IP be licensed to a 3rd party.