Boosting vaccine research and production

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of rapid access to effective vaccines. On 19 May 2021, the Federal Council decided to draw up a strategy to promote vaccine research, development and production in Switzerland in the long term.

Switzerland is active in vaccine research and the country has an efficient workforce and infrastructure to produce vaccines. To strengthen these capabilities with a view to potential future pandemics and to position Switzerland at the forefront internationally, the Federal Council commissioned the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) to develop a strategy to promote vaccine research, development and production in Switzerland in collaboration with the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER).

Objectives of the new vaccine strategy

The Federal Council commissioned the FDHA – in collaboration with the EAER and with the involvement of education, research and industry – to draw up a strategy to allow Switzerland to optimise its framework conditions (without hampering the market economy) in order to achieve the following objectives:

Strengthen the research and development of key vaccine technologies
Consolidate its expertise and production infrastructure
Reinforce international cooperation

Following an analysis of the current situation, and on the basis of interviews conducted with experts from higher education and industry, the FDHA and EAER evaluated a series of possible measures, which were set out in a detailed report (December 2021 report, see "Documents" tab).

Measures to be explored in greater depth and intervention proposals adopted by the Federal Council

On the basis of this strategic report, on 17 December 2021 the Federal Council defined eleven measures to be explored in depth, covering the whole spectrum of vaccine research, development and production.

Each measure was analysed in detail and proposals were drawn up for its implementation. On 29 November 2023, the Federal Council took note of these analyses and decided on the individual implementation proposals (November 2023 report, see "Documents" tab).