Merck to build $328 million bioprocessing facility in Daejeon

Merck plans to build a bioprocessing facility in Korea, marking its largest life science investment in the Asia-Pacific region. It expects the project to create 300 jobs.

A render of Merck's bioprocessing facility in Daejeon [MERCK KOREA]

Merck will build a 300 million euro ($328 million) bioprocessing facility in Korea, the German life science and electronics company said Thursday.

The project marks Merck's largest life science investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

The bioprocessing facility will be located in Daejeon, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Seoul. Measuring 43,000 square meters (10.6 acres), the facility will house bioprocessing production equipment, a distribution center and an automated warehouse. The plan is to produce biotech products, such as dry powder cell culture media, and process liquids for biotech clients in the region at the facility, while also offering development-stage small-scale manufacturing and sterile sampling systems.

Merck expects the project to create some 300 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 [messenger RNA] and gene therapy,” said Matthias Heinzel, Merck's CEO of life science, adding that “expanding our presence in the region will bring us even closer to our customers in this evolving and dynamic market.”

Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo said, “Daejeon is home to a rich pool of professional talent, strong technological capabilities and many biotech companies with vast growth potential,” and promised to establish an ecosystem encompassing both production and research in the region.

Merck’s life science division has announced capacity expansion projects throughout Europe, China and the United States worth more than 2 billion euros in total since 2020.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]