Johnson & Johnson Innovation has unveiled a new multifaceted initiative in Europe for early-stage companies that could transform human health. Launching in co-operation with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, the initiative will be called Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLINX (JLINX), and will be offering start-ups flexible ways to grow and collaborate across the European life science ecosystem.

JLINX will be located in a fully dedicated facility on the Janssen campus in Beerse, Belgium, and will be managed through a collaboration between Johnson & Johnson Innovation and bioqube ventures; the latter will provide independent oversight for venture funding and company selection.

JLINX will offer scientists and entrepreneurs access to venture funding, R&D expertise and state-of-the-art facilities.Interested entrepreneurs will benefit from the ability to share ideas and collaborate with each other while getting access to financing opportunities, infrastructure, and relevant expertise.

“We are confident that JLINX will create a vibrant ecosystem of start-ups and entrepreneurs with access to the world-class expertise and technology at the Janssen Campus in Belgium and within our global network,” Paul Stoffels, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, said in a statement. “This new initiative has been designed to foster the creative start-up culture in Europe that can accelerate breakthroughs.”

Under the deal, Johnson & Johnson will not hold any specific rights to commercialized products — it will get a piece of the companies accepted to the program by investing through Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC. bioqube ventures on its end will provide management team to run the day to day operations of JLINX, including managing the investment portfolio and relationships with external venture investors.

JLINX will have a particular focus on human microbiome research, alongside other areas of innovation in pharmaceuticals and cross-disciplinary healthcare solutions. The initiative is accepting applications immediately and will be fully operational by this summer.

The Johnson & Johnson Innovation network of initiatives includes four regional innovation centers (Asia Pacific, Boston, California and London), venture investing through JJDC, JLABS incubators in North America (Boston, Houston, San Diego, San Francisco and opening this spring in Toronto), as well as Janssen Business Development for later stage mergers and acquisitions.