This WEF blog presents actions taken by the Government of Korea, including in relation to trade policies, to attract investment and partnerships in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The country has rapidly become a hub for biomanufacturing in Asia; the co-authors showcased this journey the run-up to a WTO Ministerial.

This report, based on interviews with senior leaders at Merck Life Science, identifies strategies employed by private sector actors in the wake of the COVID pandemic to reinforce global biopharma supply chains. It sets forth recommendations as to how policymakers can support these efforts, to improve future pandemic preparedness and response as well as healthcare delivery in routine times.

This report presents the trajectory of the Biovac Institute in South Africa over the past two decades. Biovac is known globally for excellence in vaccines manufacturing and innovation, and it is a critical actor in the mRNA Hub. Biovac’s success is rooted in the leadership’s long-term vision, multiple projects with global tech transfer partners, targeted investments to build a highly skilled workforce, and other factors presented in the paper.

One year into the COVID pandemic, the first vaccines were just entering the market and there were not yet any therapeutics available. Innovators and their partners had scrambled to develop COVID vaccines - including with novel platforms - more quickly than ever before in history. Globally distributed networks for producing Vx and Tx were just being established. This report, based on interviews with senior leaders at the innovative biopharma companies leading the fight against COVID, captures the story of innovation, IP, and COVID. 

This Q&A was developed to inform discussions in Brussels and elsewhere about the EU SEP Regulation. It was published by Innovation Council, a cross-sectoral innovators group that includes cellular technology innovators.

This analysis is based on interviews with health biotech experts from around the world. The report describes the category of health technologies known as “biologics” and presents trends in the global biologics market. It unpacks the strategies used by different countries to attract investments and technology transfer, resulting in the emergence of biologics centers of excellence for R&D and manufacturing.

This paper provides an evidence-based assessment of how national IP offices and government agencies are addressing the gender gap in IP ownership and participation. Drawing on interviews with officials from 14 countries, analysis of more than 30 equity initiatives, and a structured review of emerging evaluation metrics, the study identifies key practices with potential for broader adoption.

This research challenges conventional wisdom that intellectual property protection impedes technology access in emerging economies. Through comparative case studies of Brazil, South Africa, Argentina, and Indonesia, this paper demonstrates that voluntary technology transfer—when supported by appropriate policies and institutional frameworks —offers a more effective pathway than coercive alternatives such as compulsory licensing.

This report discusses the transition of the biopharmaceutical industry to "Biopharma 4.0," which integrates advanced technologies like AI, automation, and data analytics into drug manufacturing. ​ It highlights the critical need for workforce evolution, emphasizing skill gaps among new hires and existing employees, and the importance of public-private partnerships to develop targeted training programs. ​ The Lyon Consortium is presented as a successful example of addressing these challenges through innovative training approaches, interdisciplinary academic programs, and strategic funding initiatives.

This report discusses the challenges and strategies for workforce development in the biopharmaceutical industry's transition to Industry 4.0, which integrates advanced technologies like AI, automation, and data analytics. ​ It highlights the need for reskilling and upskilling employees, addressing skill gaps in new hires, and fostering public-private collaborations to create specialized training programs. ​ Examples of initiatives, such as learning factories and government-supported projects, are provided to illustrate efforts in preparing the workforce for the future of biomanufacturing. ​

This report presents the trajectory of the Biovac Institute in South Africa over the past two decades. Biovac is known globally for excellence in vaccines manufacturing and innovation, and it is a critical actor in the mRNA Hub. Biovac’s success is rooted in the leadership’s long-term vision, multiple projects with global tech transfer partners, targeted investments to build a highly skilled workforce, and other factors presented in the paper.

This report highlights the urgent need for Europe to strengthen its biopharma industry to maintain global competitiveness and ensure health security. ​ It identifies challenges such as regulatory fragmentation, insufficient R&D funding, and the exodus of SMEs, while proposing solutions like creating innovation hubs, simplifying regulations, and enhancing public-private collaboration. ​ The recommendations emphasize prioritizing biopharma as a strategic sector, fostering resilience in supply chains, and adopting balanced policies to support innovation and sustainability. ​