Why it Works: Exploring the Open Discovery Innovation Network (ODIN) Innovation Model
Jan. 28, 2025—Open innovation models in collaborative research are on the rise. With the proven success of consortia like the Structural Genomics Consortium and a growing body of legislation requiring more open access policies, the research landscape will likely see greater uptake of open innovation approaches. Aarhus University’s Open Discovery Innovation Network (ODIN) is a prime example. It’s a collaboration platform focused on critical areas of health care discovery based on a foundation of open sharing of knowledge, research results, and resources.
ODIN’s approach
Launched in 2024 and funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, ODIN is a five-year project based on a successful pilot that ran from 2020-2023. Core to ODIN is its unique three-pillar concept: open collaborations, open access/data, and no intellectual property (IP) restrictions. The approach aims to lower the barrier to entry for industry partnerships by eliminating lengthy contract negotiations. The ODIN model uses the same standard contract for all funded projects, which was co-created by companies and universities. All results and knowledge from ODIN-funded projects will be publicly shared and provide universal use rights, including for commercial purposes. Along with this approach to research and results, ODIN offers access to partners, input, and materials primarily using digital platforms for ideation and co-creation of project proposals.
Source: ODIN Learn the Basics
ODIN offers two annual calls for proposals in its primary focus areas, including cardiometabolic, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases. To date, ODIN has funded 11 research projects spanning topics from diabetes and chronic kidney disease to colon cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Individuals from any company or university are welcome to participate, although the main applicant for the call must be a tenured researcher from one of five partner universities. The next call will be announced in February.
Challenges, opportunities, and impact
After its pilot program, independent researchers evaluated the ODIN model against conventional frameworks for U-I partnerships and assessed the characteristics and outcomes of ODIN-funded projects. The evaluation determined that ODIN-funded projects included a high tolerance for risk and failure and a culture that facilitated the exchange of knowledge and data between funded projects. The report also included perspectives from university and industry participants on their experiences working in the open model.
For companies, the lower barrier to entry is a huge plus, which allows the chance to solve industry challenges and engage in complex research with little negotiation. The report notes that for industry participants, the downsides of the open model are mitigated by the advantages they get, like shaping research goals and methods and the knowledge gained. And ODIN’s framework does provide opportunities for downstream IP rights protection.
The evaluation also identified challenges and areas for improvement pertaining to university involvement. Some key themes include unclear guidance and insufficient incentives for data curation, and the resource intensiveness of data sharing. The report also noted some hesitation to share unvalidated data or data release before publishing findings.
The report recommended that ODIN strengthen the ideation and matchmaking process, enhance support for participants, and provide clear guidance and resources for open data sharing. ODIN could potentially expand to other fields and broader precompetitive research themes, and continued assessment during the next few years could provide insights into long-term outcomes and continued opportunities for improvement.
Why it matters
The ODIN approach is a valuable example of how reducing barriers to partnership by simplifying IP management can drive significant discoveries and outcomes. Novel approaches to U-I partnerships help to ensure that collaborations can easily leverage resources and perspectives and deliver impactful solutions to pressing challenges. These are the kinds of approaches that UIDP’s Strengthen and Modernize Partnerships Initiative aims to see more broadly adopted. If you know about contemporary approaches to or pressing challenges facing cross-sector partnerships, please share your insight and help shape the collaborations of tomorrow.
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