German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Merck Celebrate Laying for Advanced Research Facility
Darmstadt, Germany — This Thursday, Merck announced an investment of over €300 million in the construction of a new research center at its headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany. The new facility, named the Advanced Research Center, will focus on developing bio-pharmaceutical products including antibodies, mRNA applications, and other biotechnological innovations.
The cornerstone laying ceremony was attended by German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, highlighting the project’s significance to the country’s research and development landscape. “Investments such as those made by Merck here at its headquarters in Darmstadt make tremendous economic, medical and scientific sense. They are a tribute to Germany as a leading pharmaceutical, industrial and research location and reflect the strength of the life sciences,” Chancellor Scholz remarked during the event.
The Advanced Research Center is part of Merck’s extensive €1.5 billion investment plan for the Darmstadt site. The facility will bring together various technologies from the Life Science sector of Merck, including processes for manufacturing antibodies, recombinant proteins, and viral vectors. The center will also delve into the development of cell culture media and pharmaceutical formulation aids, enhancing Merck’s capabilities in analytical chromatography and furthering mRNA research.
Expected to begin operations in 2027, the center will span approximately 18,000 square meters, providing a modern, collaborative work environment for around 550 employees. The design aims for near carbon-neutral operation, with energy sources including photovoltaic’s, geothermal energy, and air-source heat pumps. The building is designed to achieve gold certification from the German Sustainable Building Council, featuring energy-saving facades and green roofs to enhance the site’s micro-climate.
Merck’s commitment to this project reflects its broader strategy to support global healthcare solutions. The research conducted here will target significant medical needs, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases, and will support over 740 ongoing global clinical trials in mRNA-based treatments.
This initiative is expected to contribute significantly to the life sciences sector’s growth, with Merck projecting that one fifth of its Life Science business sector’s sales will emanate from this site over the next decade. Since 2020, Merck has committed more than €2 billion to global investments in this sector, aiming to expand capacities to meet the rising demand for medical solutions.