Development of innovation cooperation in the time of COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of the article is to present the development of new partnerships and R&D alliances in the time of COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The main method applied in this research was the scientific study. Descriptive, comparative, documentation and desk research methods were used. Additionally, the authors used the methods of deductive and inductive forecasting.

FINDINGS: The authors present new partnerships undertaken by biopharma (biotech and pharma) companies (in and outside the industry) in order to face pandemic and to discover and deliver a new vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 to the market. In addition, the research projects in the European Union focused on the development of diagnostics, treatments, vaccines, epidemiology, preparedness and response to outbreaks, socioeconomics, production and digital technologies as well infrastructures and data resources that make it possible this research will be presented.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: It should be taken into consideration that due to the current situation caused by pandemic the cooperation of companies and all entities in the whole biopharmaceutical R&D innovation ecosystem is even more challenging than before COVID19. Biopharma–university alliances can significantly increase the likelihood of creating better medical therapy for patients.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Results of this cooperation enable a number of innovative projects given the significant pressure on innovativeness and challenges caused by the pandemic.