Potential business model for a European vaccine R&D infrastructure and its estimated socio-economic impact [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 3 approved with reservations]

• Published in: F1000 research Vol. 12; p. 1401
• Main Authors: Jungbluth, Stefan, Martin, William, Slezak, Monika, Depraetere, Hilde, Guzman, Carlos A., Ussi, Anton, Morrow, David, Van Heuverswyn, Fran, Arnouts, Sven, Carrondo, Manuel J. T., Olesen, Ole, Ottenhoff, Tom H.M., Dockrell, H. M., Ho, Mei Mei, Dobly, Alexandre, Christensen, Dennis, Segalés, Joaquim, Laurent, Fabrice, Lantier, Frédéric, Stockhofe-Zurwieden, Norbert, Morelli, Francesca, Langermans, Jan A.M., Verreck, Frank A.W., Le Grand, Roger, Sloots, Arjen, Medaglini, Donata, Lawrenz, Maria, Collin, Nicolas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Faculty of 1000 Ltd 2023; Faculty of 1000; F1000 Research Limited
• Subjects: Biomedical Research; Business metrics; Business models; Commerce; Decision making; Design; Economic impact; Feasibility studies; Immunization; Infectious diseases; Infrastructure; Innovations; International organizations; Life Sciences; Public health; R&D; Research & development; Socioeconomic Factors; Vaccines; research and development; Vaccines; research infrastructure; science policy; business model; sustainability; impact assessment
• ISSN: 2046-1402; 2046-1402
• DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.141399.1

Background
Research infrastructures are facilities or resources that have proven fundamental for supporting scientific research and innovation. However, they are also known to be very expensive in their establishment, operation and maintenance. As by far the biggest share of these costs is always borne by public funders, there is a strong interest and indeed a necessity to develop alternative business models for such infrastructures that allow them to function in a more sustainable manner that is less dependent on public financing.
Methods
In this article, we describe a feasibility study we have undertaken to develop a potentially sustainable business model for a vaccine research and development (R&D) infrastructure. The model we have developed integrates two different types of business models that would provide the infrastructure with two different types of revenue streams which would facilitate its establishment and would be a measure of risk reduction. For the business model we are proposing, we have undertaken an ex ante impact assessment that estimates the expected impact for a vaccine R&D infrastructure based on the proposed models along three different dimensions: health, society and economy.
Results
Our impact assessment demonstrates that such a vaccine R&D infrastructure could achieve a very significant socio-economic impact, and so its establishment is therefore considered worthwhile pursuing.
Conclusions
The business model we have developed, the impact assessment and the overall process we have followed might also be of interest to other research infrastructure initiatives in the biomedical field.