New technological platforms, such as mRNA and adenoviral vector vaccines, have been utilized to develop coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. These new modalities enable rapid and flexible vaccine design and cost-effective and swift manufacturing, effectively combating pandemics caused by mutating viruses. Innovation ecosystems, including universities, startups, investors, and governments are crucial for developing these cutting-edge technologies. This review summarizes the research and development trajectory of these vaccine technologies, their investments, and the support surrounding them, in addition to the technological details of each technology. In addition, this study examines the importance of an innovation ecosystem in developing novel technologies, comparing it with the case of Japan, which has lagged behind in COVID-19 vaccine development. It also explores the direction of vaccine development in the post-COVID-19 era.
Keywords: COVID-19; adenoviral vector vaccine; innovation ecosystem; mRNA vaccine.