Institute of Virology and Immunology IVI

What Institute of Virology and Immunology IVI does

The Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) is a Swiss Federal government research institute headquartered in Mittelhäusern (Canton of Bern) with a secondary laboratory in Bern. It is the national reference laboratory for notifiable viral epizootic diseases under Article 49 of the Epizootic Diseases Ordinance and operates as a WHO CoViNet reference laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 — one of only 20 worldwide. IVI combines BSL-3 high-security laboratories, an experimental livestock farm, and decades of veterinary immunology expertise to deliver reference diagnostics, applied research, and vaccine development across species (swine, ruminants, equines, avian) and disease families (coronaviruses, influenza, African swine fever, rabies, flaviviruses).

Its core technology stack includes reverse genetic systems for coronaviruses, 3D organoid models (brain, lung, placenta), air-liquid interface epithelial cultures from human and animal hosts, a yeast-based ASFV genome manipulation platform, and proprietary VSV-based and live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine platforms. IVI's primary services are IVI Diagnostics (epizootic disease reference testing), the Swiss Rabies Centre, and the BVD eradication programme diagnostic backbone. Research services span African swine fever vaccine development (with the ASFaVIP consortium), influenza transmission and vaccine research, mosquito/tick-borne flavivirus research, and organoid-based in-vitro models supporting the 3R principle.

The institute operates as a federal state entity with revenue funded through Swiss federal budget allocations rather than commercial sales. Its go-to-market is institutional: direct coordination with the 26 cantonal veterinary services, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO/BLV), practicing veterinarians, livestock farmers, and international research partners. Diagnostic services are accessed through formal laboratory request processes, with certain exclusion tests funded by the federal government. IVI also participates in global networks (WHO CoViNet, ASFaVIP) and collaborates with leading academic and government labs (FLI Germany, Pirbright, Wageningen, Ghent, CISA Madrid, University of Bern, University of Geneva).

Name

Institute of Virology and Immunology IVI

Legal name

Institut für Virologie und Immunologie IVI

Website

https://ivi.admin.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Swiss Federal Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) operates the national reference laboratory for notifiable viral animal diseases and zoonoses, serving cantonal veterinarians, federal authorities, and farmers with BSL-3 diagnostics, vaccine development, and One Health research as a WHO CoViNet reference centre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Diagnostics and Virology Research

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAMADAC

Veterinary Microbiology & Infectious Disease Testing (Culture/PCR/Serology)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Veterinary Diagnostics (Labs & Imaging)

SECONDARYHLAMAKAM

Vaccine R&D, Clinical/Field Trials & Regulatory Affairs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Animal Vaccines

SECONDARYHLAMAJAH

Veterinary Public Health Laboratories (Reference & Confirmatory)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Animal Health Public Health, Regulators & Disease Control

SECONDARYHLAMAKAB

Livestock Vaccines (Cattle, Swine, Sheep & Goats)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Animal Vaccines

SECONDARYHLAMAJAE

Zoonotic Disease Control & Risk Assessment

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Veterinary & Animal Health/Animal Health Public Health, Regulators & Disease Control

SECONDARYHLAJAIAI

Zoonotic & One Health Public Health Laboratory Networks

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Public Health Laboratories & Reference Testing Networks

Keywords

• Veterinary diagnostics
• Viral disease research
• Vaccine development
• Animal health laboratory
• Zoonotic disease surveillance

Headquarters

HQ city

Mittelhäusern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Funding: IVI is a Swiss federal government institute funded through federal budget allocations. Services for official disease diagnostics and outbreak response are covered by federal funding as part of Switzerland's animal health infrastructure.
2. Laboratory Diagnostic Services: Provides diagnostic services for notifiable viral epizootic diseases. Laboratory testing for veterinarians and cantonal authorities. Free exclusion testing for certain diseases paid by the federal government.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) is the Swiss national reference laboratory for notifiable viral epizootic diseases and zoonoses. It provides reference diagnostic testing for veterinarians, cantonal authorities, and farmers across animal species (pigs, ruminants, equines, birds), and conducts applied research on viral animal diseases and zoonotic infections including coronaviruses, African swine fever, influenza, and flaviviruses. The institute also develops vaccines using proprietary platforms such as reverse genetics, organoid models, BSL-3 high-containment laboratory infrastructure, and an integrated experimental livestock farm.

Product overview

The Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) is Switzerland's national reference laboratory for viral animal diseases and zoonoses. IVI operates as a unified diagnostic and research institute offering multiple integrated services: diagnostic testing for epizootic diseases across species (pigs, ruminants, equines, birds), specialized services including the Swiss Rabies Centre, disease eradication programmes such as BVD, and advanced research capabilities including coronavirus research, African swine fever vaccine development, influenza research, flavivirus studies, and organoid-based in-vitro models. The institute provides services from laboratories in Mittelhäusern and Bern, functioning as the official reference laboratory for the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) and as a WHO reference laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Epizootic Disease Diagnostics
• Swiss Rabies Centre (Tollwutzentrale)
• BVD Eradication Programme Support
• Equine Disease Diagnostics
• Ruminant Disease Diagnostics
• Porcine Disease Diagnostics
• Avian Disease Diagnostics
• African Swine Fever Research and Vaccine Development
• Coronavirus Research and Diagnostics
• Influenza Research
• Flavivirus Research (Mosquito and Tick-borne)
• Organoid and In-Vitro Models

Quantifiable outcome

• BVD virtually eradicated in Switzerland through national programme supported by IVI
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Joint development of live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate published in Nature Microbiology. Long-standing collaboration on coronavirus research, vaccine development, and veterinary virology.
• Rocketvax AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Swiss biotech startup supporting development of second-generation COVID-19 vaccines. Collaboration on live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine platform using one-to-stop genome modifications.
• University of Bern (Vetsuisse Faculty)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024Long-standing research collaboration with the Vetsuisse Faculty. IVI researchers hold professorships at the university. Joint projects on coronaviruses, vaccine development, and veterinary immunology. Multiple co-authored publications in Nature Microbiology and other journals.
• University of Geneva (UNIGE) - Centre for Emerging Viral DiseasescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024Joint membership in WHO CoViNet network. Collaboration on SARS-CoV-2 variant surveillance and characterization. Partnership with Geneva University Hospitals (HUG).
• World Health Organization (WHO) - CoViNetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2024First WHO reference laboratory network for SARS-CoV-2 consisting of 20 laboratories worldwide. IVI supports WHO in characterizing new variants and assessing health risks.
• ASFaVIP ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024European consortium for African swine fever vaccine development. Goal to bring safe and efficient vaccine to European market. IVI contributes basic and applied research on immune protection mechanisms.
• National Reference Centre for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (NRGK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on avian disease diagnostics. NRGK handles primary diagnostics for poultry diseases with IVI providing further characterization of positive cases.
• STAAR Initiative (Swiss Transparency Agreement on Animal Research)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVI is part of STAAR initiative promoting communication and transparency regarding animal research. Includes public and private organizations conducting, supporting, or funding animal research.
• Wageningen University (NL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner in African swine fever research network. Collaboration on vaccine development and basic virology research.
• Ghent University (BE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partner in ASF network. Collaborative work on ASF virus-host interactions and vaccine research.
• Centro de investigación en sanidad animal (CISA), Madrid (ES)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish research partner in African swine fever international collaboration network.
• Pirbright Institute (GB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK reference laboratory partner in ASF research network. Collaboration on ASF vaccine development and diagnostics.
• Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO/BLV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss federal authority responsible for animal health. IVI provides technical expertise, diagnostic services, and research support for national disease control programmes including BVD eradication.
• Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID), University of BernmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for Wesselsbron virus research project led by IVI. Supports research on zoonotic flaviviruses and transmission mechanisms.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DTU National Veterinary Institute (Statens Serum Institut): Denmark's national veterinary institute conducting diagnostics, surveillance, and applied research on livestock diseases. Comparable in mandate and scale to IVI within the Nordic animal-health infrastructure.
• The Pirbright Institute: UK reference laboratory for animal viral diseases including ASF. Pirbright is a core IVI partner in the European ASF research network and shares a similar mandate of high-containment virology, reference diagnostics, and livestock vaccine research.
• Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA): Spanish national animal-health research centre listed as an IVI partner in ASF research. CISA conducts high-containment virology and vaccine development for livestock diseases, directly comparable to IVI's epizootic research mission.
• Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR): Dutch institute for veterinary diagnostics and research, part of Wageningen University & Research. WBVR is a listed IVI partner in the European ASF research network and shares a focus on livestock virology and reference diagnostics.
• Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI): Germany's federal research institute for animal health and the closest functional peer to IVI. FLI co-develops IVI's live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Nature Microbiology 2024) and shares BSL-3 virology infrastructure, epizootic reference-lab mandates, and vaccine R&D programmes.
• Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA): UK executive agency responsible for animal and plant health, including reference laboratory functions for notifiable animal diseases. APHA combines diagnostic, surveillance, and research roles parallel to IVI's integrated model.
• Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire (ANSES): France's national agency for food, environmental, and occupational health, including animal health reference laboratories. ANSES performs comparable epizootic diagnostic, surveillance, and zoonotic-disease research functions for the French veterinary system.
• Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale (IZS): Italian network of public veterinary experimental institutes conducting diagnostics, surveillance, and research on animal infectious diseases. IZS operates as Italy's statutory animal-health reference network, structurally similar to IVI's Swiss mandate.

Regional players

• Sciensano: Belgian public health and animal health reference institute. Sciensano performs analogous One Health diagnostics and epidemiology functions in Belgium and is a natural regional peer for cross-border epizootic preparedness.

Others

• Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern: Strategic academic partner with overlapping veterinary research capabilities and shared senior staff (e.g., Volker Thiel holds a professorship). Comparable research expertise in veterinary virology but focused on academic training rather than statutory reference diagnostics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ivi-instituteofvirologyand5899
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ivi-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Virology and Immunology IVI