On 5 November 2025, IFPMA delivered a statement on technology transfer at the WIPO Standing Committee on Patents (SCP 37) in Geneva.

Technology transfer in the pharmaceutical sector is a complex and resource-intensive process. It requires significant technical expertise, time, and investment, as well as a robust, stable, and predictable intellectual property framework, which is the cornerstone of all licensing arrangements. Equally important is the identification of expert and experienced partners. Our experience has shown that voluntary and mutually agreed collaborations offer the most effective and sustainable path to successful technology transfer, ensuring quality, safety, and long-term access to medicines and vaccines.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the biopharmaceutical industry entered over 450 voluntary partnerships for vaccines and therapeutics, according to IFPMA’s Global Health Progress resource hub, which highlights over 300 collaborations between the innovative pharmaceutical industry and more than 1100 of our global stakeholders to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Beyond technology transfer, the biopharmaceutical industry employs a range of mechanisms to expand access, including tiered pricing, product donations, public-private partnerships, and voluntary licensing. We therefore encourage Member States to maintain flexibility and to engage constructively with industry partners to identify solutions tailored to local needs, demand, and disease priorities.

To further facilitate access, we urge efforts to strengthen innovation ecosystems, promote open trade, reinforce supply chain resilience, and enhance regulatory capacity. These enabling conditions, combined with sustained health financing and political commitment, are essential to building long-term capacity and resilience in health systems.

We welcome WIPO, Member States, and observers to this committee to visit our website and our Always Innovating report for further details.

IFPMA and its members remain committed to sharing experience and supporting voluntary, collaborative initiatives that advance global health. We would like to take this opportunity to thank WIPO Secretariat for inviting our members to provide observations on the subject of technology transfer between academia and industry.

About IFPMA

IFPMA represents the innovative pharmaceutical industry at the international level, engaging in official relations with the United Nations and multilateral organizations. Our vision is to ensure that scientific progress translates into the next generation of medicines and vaccines that deliver a healthier future for people everywhere.

To achieve this, we act as a trusted partner, bringing our members' expertise to champion pharmaceutical innovation, drive policy that supports the research, development, and delivery of health technologies, and create sustainable solutions that advance global health.

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Elliot Dunster e.dunster@ifpma.org