Table 4.

Initial conditions and response strategies per buying organization.

	Case Country
	UK	Switzerland	Germany
Initial Conditions	•Very low redundancy •Limited sourcing options	•Low redundancy •Multiple sourcing options	•High redundancy •Multiple sourcing options
Government response strategies	Ensure continuity •Reallocate redundant capacity (from private sector and army) •Build stockpiles for future outbreaks Secure additional supply •Global sourcing from existing ventilator suppliers • Increase local supply options (spurring innovation) o Pool resources from disparate industries as a source of innovation o Financial incentives ⁃ Absorb/reduce suppliers’ additional material and product development costs of innovative bids to boost supply ⁃ Waive import tariffs o Regulatory changes ⁃ Relax supply-related regulations for developers and manufacturers ⁃ Expedite product approval process ⁃ Sourcing by central government	Ensure continuity •Reallocate redundant capacity (from private sector and emergency and rescue services) Secure additional supply •Exclusive arrangements with local ventilator suppliers (bulk of order quantity placed with one supplier) • Regulatory changes o Partially restrict exports (but not recognized as such (e.g., in S104 the Swiss government argued that, unlike Germany, they were not restricting exports)) o Restrict sale only to central government	Ensure continuity No evidence found Secure additional supply •Exclusive arrangements with local ventilator suppliers (bulk of order quantity placed with one supplier) • Regulatory changes o Restrict exports o Restrict sale only to central government
Supplier response strategies	Product Innovation (to enable manufacturing at scale) •Reverse engineering existing models •Developing new models •Developing components for new and existing models Ramp up supply •Scale up capacity of existing ventilator manufacturers •Repurpose manufacturing facilities production •Split development and/or manufacturing roles across sectors	Product Innovation No evidence found Ramp up supply •Scale up manufacturing •Engage in dialogue with stakeholders impacting supply •Prioritize resource allocation to ease pressure on supply	Product Innovation No evidence found Ramp up supply •Scale up manufacturing