R3 Global

R3 Global — Execution

Funds global RNA biofoundry collaboration to speed vaccine and biologic development readiness.

R3 Global is the international scaling phase of Wellcome Leap's RNA manufacturing program, jointly funded by Wellcome Leap and CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) with a combined investment of $60 million. The program's core thesis is that existing batch-production methods for RNA medicines are too slow and expensive to respond to pandemics or reach patients in low-income countries; R3 Global aims to replace them by establishing a distributed network of biofoundries across multiple countries using continuous-flow manufacturing technology. The initial R3 program ran from 2021 to 2024; the current R3 Global phase, covering approximately 2024 to 2027, expands that infrastructure to a truly global footprint.

R3 Global is in active execution. No new open solicitation for performers was visible at the time of research; performer teams for the current phase have already been selected through prior competitive processes. Eligible organizations in Wellcome Leap programs generally include universities, for-profit companies, nonprofits, and research institutes operating across jurisdictions; individual applicants are not eligible. The $60 million pool is shared between Wellcome Leap and CEPI, with individual performer award sizes not publicly disclosed. The program operates under Wellcome Leap's cooperative-agreement model, with milestone-based accountability and active program management by Wellcome Leap staff.

For organizations working in continuous-flow RNA manufacturing, biofoundry infrastructure, or pandemic-preparedness supply chains, R3 Global defines the current frontier of what Wellcome Leap considers fundable in this space. Future solicitations, if any, would likely target specific capability gaps in the biofoundry network. Teams that can demonstrate geographic reach, manufacturing scalability, and cost-reduction trajectories aligned with Wellcome Leap's published targets are best positioned for future participation.