Merck is making a substantial investment of over €300 million in a cutting-edge Bioprocessing Production Center situated in Daejeon, South Korea.
This endeavor represents Merck's largest venture in the Asia-Pacific region within its Life Science business sector, underlining the company's dedication to enhancing its footprint in this rapidly expanding market.
Merck expects the investment to create approximately 300 additional jobs by the end of 2028.
“The Asia-Pacific region is home to a large number of institutions that conduct leading-edge and innovative research, manufacturing and services in areas such as biotechnology, mRNA and gene therapy,” said Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Life Science. “Expanding our presence in the region will bring us even closer to our customers in this evolving and dynamic market. Our goal is to foster deep collaboration to increase the speed in bringing new therapies to patients.”
The facility will cater to the needs of biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms engaged in process development, clinical research, and commercial manufacturing of biologics—products derived from large and intricate biological compounds.
This includes vaccines, cell and gene therapies, and protein-based treatments like monoclonal antibodies, constituting one of the fastest-growing segments in the pharmaceutical industry.
Merck's new Bioprocessing Production Center will offer crucial biotech products such as dry powder cell culture media, process liquids, pre-GMP small-scale manufacturing, and sterile sampling systems. Spanning an expansive 43,000 square meters, the facility will feature state-of-the-art production capabilities, a distribution center, and an automated warehouse.
Established in 1989, Merck Korea has been consistently driving dynamic growth of the science and technology industries with more than 1,700 employees across Life Science, Healthcare and Electronics. Merck Korea encompasses 13 sites in production and R&D including the M Lab™ Collaboration Center in Songdo, Incheon which serves biopharmaceutical companies in the region.
Merck's investment in South Korea is part of a broader multi-year initiative aimed at bolstering the capacity and capabilities of its Life Science business sector to meet the escalating global demand for critical drugs. Since 2020, Merck has announced expansion projects in Life Science across Europe, China, and the United States, totaling more than €2 billion.
