Lee Won-jae, head of Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, and Seok Su-jin, CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea (center), are taking a commemorative photo with officials after signing an agreement on the 22nd. [Photo by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority]
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The advanced technology support center for biopharmaceuticals of the global life sciences company Thermo Fisher Scientific will be established in Songdo International City, Incheon Free Economic Zone.
On the 22nd, according to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, Lee Won-jae, the head of the authority, visited the Songdo BT Center where Thermo Fisher will move in, and signed an "Agreement for the Promotion of Songdo Biopharmaceutical Research and Process Sector" with Seok Su-jin, CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea, the Korean subsidiary of Thermo Fisher.
Headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA, Thermo Fisher supplies over one million products and advanced technology services in the life sciences field worldwide, including Korea. As of last year, it recorded sales of $25 billion (approximately 29 trillion KRW) and employed about 75,000 people, making it a global leader in life sciences research and process products.
The Thermo Fisher Bioprocess Design Center (BDC) to be established in Songdo will be equipped with about 100 pieces of equipment, including animal cell and microbial culture rooms that replicate biopharmaceutical production processes, cell culture media and buffer preparation rooms, purification and analysis laboratories, enabling everything from basic biopharmaceutical research to production.
Thermo Fisher plans to provide specialized services such as advanced technology support in biopharmaceutical research and process fields and expert training at the BDC, and cooperate with the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority to enhance the technological competitiveness of the Songdo bio cluster's biopharmaceutical sector.
Lee Won-jae, head of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, expressed expectations, saying, "By attracting Thermo Fisher BDC, Songdo's status as a global leading cluster concentrated with the latest technology and know-how in basic biopharmaceutical research and production will be further solidified."
Seok Su-jin, CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific Solutions, said, "We are pleased to join the Songdo bio cluster and participate in enhancing the technological competitiveness of the domestic biopharmaceutical sector," adding, "We will provide high-level technology support services in biopharmaceutical research and process fields with advanced research facilities and equipment."
Currently, leading domestic biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing companies such as Celltrion, Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis, DM Bio, and Vinex are located in the Songdo bio cluster.
Additionally, global companies such as Cytiva (formerly GE Healthcare) and Merck have advanced facilities and equipment and provide technology support services in biopharmaceutical research and process fields.
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