The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission (EC) are partnering with BioNTech to advance a state-of-the-art mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Kigali, Rwanda, with up to €95 million in blended financing. The funding includes a €35 million EC grant and a potential €60 million EIB loan, while a CEPI grant of up to €130 million supports project costs. The initiative aims to strengthen Africa’s capacity to produce vaccines for diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and mpox, supporting both health and local economic development.
The Kigali facility will use BioNTech’s modular “BioNTainers,” allowing scalable, flexible production of mRNA vaccines tailored to regional needs. If successful, it will become the continent’s first commercial mRNA vaccine site, producing vaccines for widespread use and clinical trial materials for local partners. The project is designed to build technical expertise, create jobs, and position Rwanda as a hub for medical innovation while improving regional health security.
This initiative is supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and aligns with the African Union’s goal of producing 60% of vaccines on the continent by 2040. It also supports the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and broader Global Health priorities, aiming to increase local vaccine production and reduce reliance on external suppliers. CEPI emphasizes that the Kigali facility will follow internationally recognized Good Manufacturing Practices, improving Africa’s readiness to respond to epidemics and pandemics.
The blended financing mechanism combines EC guarantees with EIB lending and Gates Foundation expertise through the Human Development Accelerator (HDX), enabling higher-risk investments that fill market gaps in low- and middle-income countries. BioNTech will receive milestone-linked disbursements from the EC grant and can draw on EIB loans to accelerate construction, equipment acquisition, and operational setup.
The project contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). It reflects a multi-partner approach involving public, private, philanthropic, and civil actors to foster a resilient, sustainable vaccine ecosystem in Africa, enhance pandemic preparedness, and ensure equitable access to life-saving vaccines.
The Kigali mRNA facility represents a milestone in global health collaboration, combining technology, investment, and expertise to empower Africa with local capacity for vaccine development and manufacturing, creating a model for future health infrastructure across the continent.
