The success of Operation Warp Speed (OWS) in accelerating the development, production, and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in record time has sparked a compelling question: can a similar model be applied to other urgent innovations beyond the pandemic? This topic is explored in a recent working paper co-authored by our faculty director, Christopher Snyder, with Arielle D’Souza, Kendall Hoyt, and Alec Stapp.
OWS achieved what many thought impossible — delivering safe and effective vaccines within a year, compressing a process that typically spans a decade. Its success shares elements with historical missions like the Manhattan Project and the Apollo Program, which also required extraordinary coordination and investment to meet national priorities in a limited timeframe.
By analyzing the design features that made OWS a triumph, the authors provide key insights that could by applied to future mission-driven innovations. First, OWS embraced a portfolio of approaches, funding multiple vaccine candidates simultaneously to increase the chances of success. By not shying away from long-shot investments, such as mRNA technology, OWS ensured a broad enough effort to mitigate the risk of failure from any one approach. During large-scale crises, even small increases in the likelihood of success or accelerated timelines can translate into billions of dollars in social value, making these strategies invaluable.
In addition, OWS combined push and pull funding—providing upfront support for research and development (push) while also guaranteeing future purchase agreements for successful vaccines (pull). This dual strategy helped accelerate progress while reducing financial risks for companies. Crucially, prodigious funding tied all of these elements together, enabling rapid development, large-scale production, and a coordinated national effort.
The authors argue that while not every innovation challenge is suited for an OWS-style mission, those that meet the criteria could benefit greatly from this all-in approach. For instance, carbon removal technologies—with minimal commercial demand, high social value, and the ability to defend against an urgent climate crisis—could be ideal candidates for an OWS-style mission, benefiting from bold investments and a portfolio of approaches to accelerate progress. In contrast, Alzheimer’s disease, which already benefits from strong commercial incentives and substantial public funding through traditional research programs, may not require a mission-style model but could still benefit from targeted public support.
As we continue to navigate complex global challenges, the insights from OWS could serve as a blueprint for future innovations. To learn more, you can read the full working paper here.
