The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission (EC) have announced a groundbreaking partnership with BioNTech to establish Africa's first commercial mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Kigali, Rwanda. The initiative represents a transformative step toward strengthening Africa's health security and achieving vaccine self-sufficiency on the continent.
€95 Million Investment Package
BioNTech has been awarded a comprehensive blended financing package of up to €95 million to advance the state-of-the-art manufacturing site. The funding comprises a €35 million grant from the European Commission—beginning with an initial €13 million payment with further disbursements linked to project milestones—and an EIB loan facility of up to €60 million.
The facility is designed to produce mRNA vaccines for diseases that pose the greatest threats to African populations, including malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and mpox, contingent upon successful development and regulatory approval.
Revolutionary BioNTainer Technology
The Kigali facility will be equipped with BioNTech's innovative "BioNTainers"—high-tech, modular production units that can be rapidly deployed, installed, and adapted to manufacture different mRNA vaccines. This flexible, scalable approach enables vaccines to be tailored to local health needs and allows for quick response to emerging health crises.
"This manufacturing site is about empowering Africa with the tools and expertise to tackle health challenges independently," said Karl Nehammer, EIB Vice-President responsible for health. "By working with BioNTech and the European Commission, we're supporting a future where vaccines are produced in Africa, for Africa. This partnership is a major step forward for health, jobs, and innovation across the continent."
Supporting Africa's Vaccine Independence Goals
The project directly supports the African Union's ambitious target of producing 60% of vaccines locally by 2040, addressing the supply chain vulnerabilities and inequitable access exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Once operational, the facility is expected to serve dual purposes: producing vaccines for widespread public use and manufacturing clinical trial materials for local research partners.
Sierk Poetting, Chief Operating Officer of BioNTech, emphasized the collaborative nature of the initiative: "We recognize that the challenges in global health are too vast for any single entity to solve alone. BioNTech is dedicated to working across the entire development chain, partnering with local communities, researchers, governments, and not-for-profit organizations to make a meaningful impact."
Strategic International Collaboration
The project results from close collaboration between BioNTech, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and Team Europe partners. The initiative aligns with the EU's Global Gateway strategy, which has already invested more than €1.9 billion in local vaccine and medicine manufacturing across Africa.
"Global health is a key priority of the Global Gateway strategy," said Jozef Síkela, Commissioner for International Partnerships. "The agreement with BioNTech to support the advancement of its state-of-the-art mRNA manufacturing facility in Rwanda will boost expertise across the region and build increased independence from entities outside of Africa."
CEPI's Critical Role in Ensuring Access
CEPI has committed up to €130 million in grant funding announced in 2024 to ensure that vaccines produced at the Kigali site will be accessible and affordable for populations most in need. Dr. Amadou Sall, Executive Director of Manufacturing and Supply Chain at CEPI, highlighted the facility's strategic importance: "Establishing the pioneering Rwanda facility as the first mRNA vaccine manufacturing site in the region following the globally recognised Goods Manufacturing Practice will boost regional vaccine capacity to help more rapidly respond to public health threats, including new outbreaks that strike locally."
Economic and Innovation Impact
Beyond vaccine production, the facility is expected to generate high-skilled employment opportunities in biotechnology, engineering, and logistics while fostering partnerships with local research institutions and universities. The project will strengthen Rwanda's emerging role as a continental hub for medical innovation and biomedical research.
The modular design of the BioNTainer technology also enables potential future expansion into other African countries, creating a network of interconnected production sites capable of rapid scale-up during health emergencies.
Sustainable Development Goals Alignment
The project is expected to make significant contributions to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
The blended financing mechanism is made possible through the European Commission's EFSD+ guarantee programme and the Human Development Accelerator (HDX), which combines EIB financing with Gates Foundation expertise to unlock up to €1 billion for global health challenges.
