Multi-billion dollar investment in innovation and technology: All for smoke-free future

The eighth annual Technovation conference was held in the Swiss city of Neuchâtel, focusing on the key role of innovation, technology, and science in ensuring a smoke-free future, Report informs.

The event was organized at the Research and Development Center of Philip Morris International (PMI). In his speech, PMI CEO Jacek Olczak emphasized the need to use the full potential of innovation and science-based policies as part of collective efforts to eliminate smoking.

He noted that scientific and innovative approaches to the problem of tobacco smoking will be more effective compared to the measures taken to date and will help achieve a tenfold reduction in smoking-related mortality. "According to World Health Organization statistics, there are about 1.1 billion smokers on the planet. In most countries, despite very active educational work and regulatory or prohibitive measures by governments, the number of smokers is not decreasing. Experts do not predict a sharp decline in the future either, which means that these measures are no longer as effective today," he said.

Olczak stated that PMI's global mission is to offer an alternative to those who don't want to completely give up nicotine: "If you don't smoke, don't start under any circumstances; if you smoke, quit; if you can't or don't want to quit, then switch to a less harmful alternative."

PMI's Vice President for International Communications and Engagement, Tommaso Di Giovanni, emphasized that innovations are initially met with skepticism but are eventually accepted as the norm.

"George Cayley established the principles of aviation in 1799, which were implemented much later. Nils Bohlin invented the seat belt at Volvo in 1959, but at first, they weren't taken seriously. Now they are mandatory almost everywhere and, of course, accepted as the norm. A country's openness to innovation and awareness of the benefits of smokeless products can be of great importance. When people have the right information, they make the right choice," said Di Giovanni.

During panel discussions, PMI's Senior Vice President for External Affairs, Christos Harpantidis, and the company's President for the Europe region, Massimo Andolina, noted the great importance of countries' openness to innovation and societies' awareness of the benefits of smokeless products.

In this regard, Sweden was noted as a striking example of success in harm reduction strategies. Despite that in the past 49% of Swedish men were regular smokers, the country significantly reduced smoking rates largely by allowing them to switch to products with significantly lower risks - snus, nicotine pouches (traditional smokeless tobacco) and other smokeless alternatives such as vapes and heated tobacco. Thanks to better regulation of alternative tobacco products, today only 5.6% of people smoke in Sweden.

During the conference, the need for large investments in improving smokeless products was noted. In particular, over the previous 10 years, PMI's total investments in technology development, scientific research, and production have already exceeded $12 billion and continue to grow.