26–28 October 2026 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) participated in the African Healthcare Manufacturing Trade Exhibition and Conference (AHMTEC) 2026, took place from 26 to 28 October in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
AHMTEC brought together pharmaceutical manufacturers, policymakers, industry leaders and development partners to explore opportunities for strengthening local manufacturing capacity and building a more sustainable and resilient healthcare manufacturing ecosystem in Africa.
At AHMTEC 2026, MPP highlighted how voluntary licensing, technology transfer and strategic partnerships can support regional pharmaceutical manufacturing, strengthen supply chains and expand access to quality-assured medicines in low- and middle-income countries.
Title: Partner to Perform – Key contracting levers that manufacturers must consider
Date & time: 12:25-13:15 EAT, 27 October 2026
Session overview
From partnerships to production and sustainable commercial success: What makes technology transfer successful?
At AHMTEC2026 in Addis Ababa, MPP’s Tiwadayo Braimoh shared insights from our experience in voluntary licensing and technology transfer during the panel discussion “Partner to Perform”, focused on building sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa.
Four key points: 1. Right products, right timing – Anticipating future health needs and market opportunities. 2. Clear commitments – Defining technology transfer, training and technical support. 3. Phased implementation – Building manufacturing capacity through realistic milestones. 4. Commercial sustainability – Ensuring viable business models and long-term demand.
The discussion also underscored the importance of trust, shared objectives and regulatory readiness.
Tiwa also highlighted that moving from agreements to actual manufacturing requires more than technology transfer. Access to financing, regulatory readiness, skilled personnel and predictable demand must come together. Strengthening Africa’s manufacturing capacity is a shared responsibility that requires an enabling ecosystem and coordinated action.
The message was clear: technology transfer is not the finish line. Success means turning partnerships into sustainable manufacturing and improved access to medicines.
Throughout the conference, MPP welcomed partners and participants at Booth S1 in the exhibition area.
Our team discussed with the event participants on how voluntary licensing, technology transfer and partnerships can help support sustainable manufacturing and improve access to essential medicines across the region.
Press and Media
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to and facilitate the development of innovative medicines and other health technologies for low- and middle-income countries. Through its innovative business model, MPP partners with civil society, governments, international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders to prioritise and license needed health products and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations.
To date, MPP has signed agreements with 23 patent holders for 13 HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, a cancer treatment, four long-acting technologies, a post-partum haemorrhage medicine, one antiviral treatment for influenza, three oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and 16 COVID-19 technologies.
MPP was founded by Unitaid, which continues to be MPP’s main funder. MPP’s work on access to essential medicines is also funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Government of Canada and Coeffient Giving. MPP’s activities in technology transfer are undertaken with the financial support of the Japanese Government, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the German Agency for International Cooperation, the Government of Flanders and SDC.