Eli Lilly and Co. has opened its first shared innovation lab in South San Francisco, designed to speed the discovery of innovative medicines through collaboration with local biotech companies. Lilly Gateway Labs will offer companies direct access to Lilly scientists, team members and executives, as well as Lilly’s scientific and functional expertise.

“Lilly is making this investment to help speed the discovery of medicines,” said Dan Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D., president of Lilly Research Laboratories and chief scientific officer, Eli Lilly and Co. “This model will enable scientists to do what they do best, in an environment that fosters scientific breakthrough. We’re excited to see how it will impact our ability to deliver new solutions for patients.”

Lilly Gateway Labs offers companies the opportunity to collaborate with Lilly on projects of mutual interest, participate in shared learning forums with Lilly experts and partners, and have the potential for financial investment from Lilly, venture funds, or both.

Lilly Gateway Labs has more than 65,000 sq.-ft. of space and offers 32 state-of-the-art, flexibly designed private lab modules. Each module includes lab space for six to eight scientists, office space, and work stations. The space was designed with open areas for collaboration, where scientific symposia and programming will be hosted by Lilly for companies at the site as well as the broader Bay Area scientific community.