Darmstadt, Germany — Merck, a leading science and technology company, has unveiled plans to invest over €300 million in establishing a state-of-the-art Bioprocessing Production Center in Daejeon, South Korea. This investment marks the largest by Merck’s Life Science business sector in the Asia-Pacific region, underscoring its commitment to expanding capabilities in this rapidly growing market.
The facility, set to cover an expansive area of 43,000 square meters, will feature advanced production capacities, a distribution center, and an automated warehouse. It is designed to bolster the process development, clinical research, and commercial manufacturing of biologics for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Biologics, complex drugs derived from large biological compounds, include vaccines, cell and gene therapies, and protein-based therapies such as monoclonal antibodies, representing one of the fastest-growing drug classes.
Merck’s Bioprocessing Production Center in South Korea will offer critical biotech products, including dry powder cell culture media, process liquids, and pre-GMP small-scale manufacturing solutions, along with sterile sampling systems. The facility’s diverse product range is aimed at meeting the growing demands of the biotech industry.
Since establishing its presence in 1989, Merck Korea has played a pivotal role in driving the growth of the science and technology sectors in the region. With over 1,700 employees and encompassing 13 sites dedicated to production and R&D, including the M Lab™ Collaboration Center in Songdo, Incheon, Merck Korea continues to be a key player in advancing biopharmaceutical progress in Asia-Pacific.
The new center is expected to create approximately 300 additional jobs by the end of 2028, further contributing to the local economy and the global biotechnology industry.