Public-private partnerships in public health research: does it work and if yes, how?

Abstract

Private investments in research are a hot topic in the European Union (EU). Interest has increased due to the targets set in Barcelona 2002 to implement the EU 2000 Lisbon treaty, and were recently renewed.1 The targets concern an overall investment in research and development (RD two-thirds of this should be private investments. In 2000, the EU countries spent only 1.82% of their GDP on R&D, with only a slight majority coming from private investments. By setting the targets, the EU expected to reinforce the competitiveness of its economy compared to e.g. the USA and Japan who indeed invested about 3% of their GDP in R&D. Recent figures have not been impressive, with an average total investment in R&D of EU countries being 1.9% of their GDP in 2010. However, the EU continues to aim at 3% in its new plan Europe 2020.1 Public–private partnerships (PPP) are a way to realize such an increase in R&D investments, with the joint financing and performance of projects by the public and private sector. …