Investing 377.2 Billion Won to Build Korea's Largest One-Stop Research and Process Development System
Accelerating Growth by Strengthening Global Networks and Next-Generation Vaccine Platforms
SK Bioscience has officially ushered in the Songdo era.
Exterior view of SK Bioscience Global R&PD Center located in Songdo, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. SK Bioscience.
SK Bioscience announced that it has completed the relocation of its headquarters and research institute to the 'Global R&PD (Research & Process Development) Center' established in Songdo International City, Incheon, and began official operations on January 19. According to SK Bioscience, this move to Songdo is more than just a physical relocation of the company’s base; it marks a turning point that will transform the Songdo cluster, previously focused on manufacturing, into an advanced research-driven hub.
The Global R&PD Center is a large-scale research and process development hub, with a total investment of 377.2 billion won covering land, construction, and facilities. The building, which has two basement levels and seven above-ground floors, occupies a land area of 30,414 square meters and a total floor area of 64,178 square meters. It is designed to connect research and development (R&D), process development (PD), and quality analysis functions into a single development flow.
In particular, the center is equipped with the largest and most advanced facilities in Korea dedicated to vaccine research. It features specialized laboratories for next-generation vaccine platform research, including messenger RNA (mRNA), protein recombination, and viral vectors, as well as a digital-based collaborative environment. This enables stable and efficient research and process validation for a variety of vaccine modalities.
To integrate research processes that previously had to be conducted in parallel at the commercial production facility 'L HOUSE' in Andong, a global-standard pilot lab was also established within the center. With this, SK Bioscience has completed a 'one-stop development system' that allows the entire process-from initial platform research to process design, scaling up, technology validation, and transfer-to be carried out in a single space, thereby enhancing both development speed and quality.
The spatial design of the center reflects SK Bioscience’s commitment to building its unique organizational culture. All floors are connected by open staircases to naturally promote movement, communication, and collaboration among members, while the lobby is designed with the motif of cell connections. A 'Passion Wall' visualizing the group’s history and founding spirit has been installed to add symbolic value to the space. On the first floor, there is an open event space that can accommodate more than 100 people, as well as various medium and small-sized meeting rooms, enabling not only internal and external events but also exchange programs for global partners, government officials, and international organizations.
SK Bioscience plans to leverage the Songdo Global R&PD Center to strengthen its premium vaccine portfolio, including pneumococcal vaccines, and to expand its capabilities in developing major vaccines such as influenza. In addition, the company will pursue mid- to long-term strategies such as expanding mRNA and artificial intelligence (AI)-based platforms, increasing global joint projects with international organizations and institutions such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Gates Foundation, and expanding business in connection with its subsidiary, IDT Biologika.
An Jaeyong, CEO of SK Bioscience, stated, "The move into the Songdo Global R&PD Center is significant in that it secures the infrastructure to practically realize our mid- to long-term growth strategy, going beyond a simple relocation of our office building. Based on this space, we will continue to innovate by integrating research, process, and global collaboration into a single growth structure, thereby contributing to global health and advancing as a global company."
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