Join: European Pharma Modernization Movement
Securing Europe’s Critical Medicines Through Factory Modernization
With the Critical Medicines Act (CMA) and a proposed €4 billion EU support framework, the question is no longer whether change is needed — but how that support will be used to deliver maximum return for Europe’s pharmaceutical manufacturing base.
Together, Medicines for Europe and SCW.AI are launching the Modernization Movement — a joint initiative to ensure that European manufacturers use this opportunity not only to digitize, but to become truly AI-ready, productivity-driven, and globally competitive.
Why We Initiated This Movement
The CMA creates the framework. Funding creates opportunity. But without a clear modernization roadmap, financial aid risks being fragmented, underutilized, or focused on hype rather than structural transformation.
The Modernization Movement exists to:
Maximize the return of the €4 billion EU financial support
Prioritize data foundations and AI readiness, not superficial digitalization
Align policy, industry, and technology around measurable productivity gains
Amplify the voice of European pharmaceutical manufacturers
This is not about “AI for AI’s sake.” It is about building the industrial backbone required for long-term health sovereignty.
Modernization vs. New Factories: Which Delivers More Value?
There is no single solution to Europe’s supply challenges. However, for today’s European realities, factory modernization is often the faster and more capital-efficient lever.
Why modernization fits Europe’s context:
Labor shortages are structural, not temporary
Labor productivity has stagnated in many facilities
Existing OEE levels remain low across the sector
Building new factories does not fix productivity gaps
Modernization reduces costs and improves compliance/sustainability while building domestic capacity.
New modular solutions significantly shorten deployment time
Requires far less capital investment than new sites
In many cases, increasing OEE and improving shop-floor visibility can unlock capacity equivalent to new production lines — without waiting years for construction and regulatory approvals.
To estimate the business return of Factory Modernization you can use our free “ROI Calculator“.
What the Modernization Movement Provides
Legislative & Policy Updates
CMA developments and implementation guidance
Funding mechanisms and eligibility insights
Strategic autonomy initiatives across the EU
Hype Free Digital Strategies
Clear pathways from data foundation to AI-driven optimization
Workforce transformation strategies
Best practices & change management
Proven Success Stories
Real-world modernization examples
Measured productivity and cost improvements
Compliance and GMP transformation stories
Policy Shaping & Industry Voice
Coordinated input to ensure aid supports structural transformation
Amplifying European manufacturers’ needs and realities
Modernization Leaders & Influencers
Adrian van den Hoven
Director General
Factory modernization stands out as one of the most impactful, realistic, and strategic levers for eliminating medicine shortages. Not only because productivity enhancement is a suitable way of increasing domestic production while respecting Europe’s labor shortage and high input costs, but also because it reflects Europe’s long tradition of innovation, efficiency, and technological leadership.
Modernizing our pharmaceutical manufacturing base is the natural continuation of this legacy. We underline the need for the CMA Regulation to specifically support technological innovation in manufacturing to enable appropriate financial support for strategic autonomy. By joining the Modernization Movement, you contribute to shaping how that support is structured and deployed.
Evren Ozkaya
Founder and CEO
The evidence is clear. Modernization quantifies the productivity unlocked through structured transformation and presents practical, proven use cases already leveraged by leading manufacturers worldwide to boost output, reduce costs, and strengthen compliance.
The conclusion is unambiguous: factory modernization can expand Europe’s domestic production capacity as effectively as building new facilities — but in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost. Importantly, these gains also support the long-term affordability of medicines for patients. The Modernization Movement ensures these insights translate into coordinated European action.
Complimentary Resources
Medicines and Europe and SCW.AI published a free eBook: ‘Securing Europe’s Medicine Supply: Can Factory Modernization Deliver Resilience Under the Critical Medicines Act?‘ We encourage all European pharma industry stakeholders to download the guide to find detailed analysis on:
The productivity gap in European pharma
Modernization vs. new factory economics
AI readiness requirements and proven digital transformation roadmap.
Measured modernization ROI and more
On 18 February 2026, we gathered industry leaders, policymakers, manufacturers, and advisors in a joint webinar titled: “Securing Europe’s Critical Medicines Through Factory Modernization Under the CMA.”
Hosted by Medicines for Europe and SCW.AI, the session was more than a discussion — it was the starting point of what is now the Modernization Movement.
The full session is available as a recorded resource. Members of the Modernization Movement can access the following webinars and ongoing updates as part of the initiative.
Other Resources
Join the Modernization Movement Now!
The Modernization Movement ensures that financial support builds AI-ready factories, resilient supply chains, and globally competitive European pharmaceutical production.
Fill out the registration form below.
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