Giorgetti, ‘with pandemic delays emerged EU institutions on research and rules’

Public funding of research and an efficient regulatory system: “These factors of competitiveness of the national and European pharmaceutical industry are proving to be critical. On the other hand, it is precisely the experience of the pandemic that has shown the delay of European institutions in this field, both in financing the research of new vaccines and in attracting production. The European Union has limited itself to organizing the purchase of vaccines from third countries “. This was stated by Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Economic Development, opening the event ‘InnovaCtion, what is needed for ideas to become health, business, future’, promoted by GlaxoSmithKline (Gsk) at its headquarters in Verona, on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of presence in our country. According to Giorgetti, we can and must “seek greater convergence of the regulatory systems of the pharmaceutical market within the Member States of the Union”. As regards “financial support, both through tax concessions and direct financial support – continued the minister – the complex question of European state aid rules arises. These rules are aimed at protecting competition within Europe,” but they are holding back the policies aimed at strengthening European competitiveness on a global level and at pursuing the objectives of ‘preparedness and security’. Europe in the face of the pandemic has made it possible, with the adoption of the Temporary Framework, to overcome the restrictions placed on aid Been for a limited period, but the topic today is how to design a long-term strategy “. The presence of these rules, continued Giorgetti,” is part of the difficulty of arriving at a quick and efficient public-private collaboration to locate in our Country important strategic investments in research, development and production on which a hopefully fruitful dialogue has been opened for some time between the ministry economic development and your society. For this reason, the Ministry of Economic Development has already raised the question of declaring the strategic character of the pharmaceutical industry, but this implies that specific rules and policies similar to those adopted for other sectors relating to national security should be adopted for this sector. . This game is also played largely in Europe “. For Giorgetti, this is” the time to put the question firmly on the table, because public resources destined to strengthen health systems and related industries are now more abundant than in the past and there is the national political will to use them quickly “. As regards tax breaks,” the ministry of economic development, together with the ministry of economy and finance, last year decided to increase it by 5 times and for a period of 10 years the ceiling of the tax credit on investments in research and development of the pharmaceutical industries “, he concluded.