The Role of Public R&D; Funding in Driving Innovation and Access - supporting the Pandemic Agreement

The adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement represents a major milestone in strengthening global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Article 9 of the Agreement focuses on research and development (R&D), aiming to ensure that countries are better equipped to respond rapidly and equitably to future health emergencies. Article 9.5, a binding provision, establishes a principle that public R&D funding should be conditional on access, affordability, transparency, and knowledge sharing. This project, led by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), seeks to support the operationalisation of Article 9.5 by working with public R&D funders and governments to translate these principles into practical policy and funding models. Drawing on DNDi’s two decades of experience in needs-driven innovation and equitable access, the initiative will help ensure that public investments in health R&D deliver meaningful public health benefits, particularly for low- and middle-income countries. The programme includes three workstreams: (1) convening a collaborative group of public R&D funders; (2) mapping and analysing existing practices to build an evidence base; (3) developing and promoting high-level principles and model policies. Keywords: public R&D funding, equitable access, Pandemic Agreement, Article 9.5, global health, research policy, access conditions, health equity