Valent BioSciences and Valent U.S.A. Collaborate with Halo on Open Innovation Initiative

SAN RAMON, Calif., June 23, 2021 – Valent BioSciences  and Valent U.S.A. are collaborating with Halo to launch an open innovation initiative utilizing Halo’s state-of-the-art technology platform. This platform connects enterprises with universities, researchers and start-ups around the world to effectively crowd-source innovative ideas, technologies and solutions with experts who are working on either solving the same problems or similar problems across a range of scientific endeavors that could be applied elsewhere.

Utilizing Halo, sponsors post areas of interest for research collaborations through requests for proposals (RFPs), and scientists respond with simple, standardized proposals. Organizations then review the proposals and reach out directly to learn more or provide feedback. If the parties are interested in sharing confidential information or negotiating an agreement, the conversation moves off of Halo and the process proceeds as usual with any industry collaboration.

“Halo is a marketplace and network that drives science forward by connecting scientists directly with leading companies to promote research collaborations and funding opportunities,” said Kevin Leland, CEO and founder of Halo. “We’re thrilled to partner with industry leaders Valent BioSciences and Valent U.S.A. so that researchers who share their dedication to agricultural sustainability can benefit from their expertise and resources.”

In its first venture with Halo, Valent BioSciences and Valent U.S.A. are focused on finding partners to further their research in three specific areas. These areas include soil carbon sequestration, the ecosystem services benefits of mycorrhizal fungi colonization and novel compounds that can bolster crop protection and enhancement portfolios. The three RFPs are posted on the Halo website for interested parties to learn more about the various opportunities.

In addition, Valent BioSciences and Valent U.S.A. are hosting several webinars on June 29 that will provide additional details about the companies and RFPs. Participants can register for these webinars on the Halo website.

“We are excited to collaborate with Halo in tackling some of our planet’s most urgent challenges in accordance with our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said Dr. Warren Shafer, Vice President, Global R&D and Regulatory Affairs, Valent BioSciences. “With an opportunity to shape the future, we look to reach beyond our corporate boundaries to engage with like-minded collaborators and innovative technologies that can be tailored into sustainable and leading-edge solutions that will help our growers and the planet thrive. We believe that through our partnership with Halo, Valent Biosciences and Valent U.S.A. can broaden our connection to the global scientific and business communities, while communicating our commitment to people, planet and productivity.”

About Halo
Halo is a partnering platform where companies and scientists join forces to bring new innovations to market. Through a simple, streamlined RFP process, companies can quickly review proposals with their team, learn about new technologies and cultivate relationships with the scientists behind them. For more passive scouting and brand building, companies can highlight existing research partnerships and technology interests on their innovation page. Since launching in January 2020, Ph.D. scientists and startups across 65 countries and six continents have submitted more than 1,000 proposals on Halo. To learn more, visit halo.science/sponsors.

About Valent BioSciences LLC
Headquartered in Libertyville, Illinois, Valent BioSciences is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., and is the worldwide leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of biorational products with sales in 95 countries around the world. Valent BioSciences is an ISO 9001 Certified Company. For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.valentbiosciences.com.

About Valent U.S.A. LLC
Valent U.S.A., headquartered in San Ramon, California, develops and markets products in the United States, Canada and Mexico that advance sustainable agriculture, protect crops, enhance crop yields, improve food quality, beautify the environment and safeguard public health. Valent products include a well-known line of quality herbicide, insecticide, fungicide and plant growth regulator products for agricultural, seed protection and professional use. Valent is a leader in marketing and sales of both traditional chemical products and biorational products developed by its affiliate, Valent BioSciences LLC.

About Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sumitomo Chemical is one of Japan’s leading chemical companies. It offers a diverse range of products globally in the fields of petrochemicals, energy and functional materials, IT-related chemicals and materials, health and crop science products, and pharmaceuticals. The company’s consolidated sales revenue for fiscal year 2020 was JPY 2.287 trillion and the number of employees is about 34,000 as of March 31, 2020. For additional information, visit the company’s website at https://www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp/english/.