On 18 November 2022, a technical meeting on voluntary licensing took place in Bern between the Swiss Confederation, Product Development Partnerships (PDPs), the Swiss pharmaceutical sector and representatives from international organisations. The event was facilitated by the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The aim was to bring together R&D-based pharmaceutical companies and PDPs which operate successfully in the field of voluntary licensing and technology transfer in Switzerland.

 

The event provided a platform for relevant stakeholders to meet and explore opportunities for new partnerships, cooperation and synergies in the area of voluntary licensing in the pharmaceutical sector, with a special focus on LMICs.

 

The event was opened by Swiss ambassador Alexandra Baumann, who briefly introduced why equitable access to innovative health products on a global scale is one priority of the Swiss government’s Foreign Health Policy This was followed by an overview of the basic elements required for the successful implementation of voluntary licensing agreements. In a second part, PDPs and R&D-based innovator companies held a technical exchange, showcasing voluntary licensing agreements they have in place for a variety of disease areas and describing the underlying factors for their successful implementation.

 

Finally, a roundtable discussion allowed participants to share experiences and network. A follow-up to the event is scheduled to take place in spring 2023 to review the state of play and to build on existing collaborations.