Boosting vaccine research and manufacture

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 manufacture 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 measures, which are the subject of a detailed report.

Measures to examine in depth

On the basis of this strategic report, the Federal Council defined the measures which are now to be explored in depth and for which implementation proposals are being drawn up.

The measures agreed by the Federal Council cover the whole spectrum of vaccine research, development and production, but they are not identical to all the proposed measures set out in the strategic report.