IFEZ Journal

SK Bioscience R&PD Center Builds a Global Bio Ecosystem

The establishment of SK Bioscience’s Songdo research center has become visible in earnest. The construction of the global research and process development (R&PD) center began in April and will be completed in the first half of 2025. At this point, SK Bioscience will move its headquarters to Songdo.

Construction Has Started on a State-of-the-Art R&PD Center

SK Bioscience promoted the construction of a vaccine research and development facility in Songdo International City in 2021. The company has been evaluated as having changed the paradigm of the vaccine market at home and abroad based on its own R&D technology and production capacity recognized globally. To strengthen the vaccine business and expand new business areas, SK Bioscience decided to establish a global R&PD center in Songdo, which offers a locational advantage. The project’s total cost is KRW 325.7 billion, involving the purchase of the expansion complex of the Techno Park in Songdo Zone 7 and with construction to begin in April of this year.

In commemoration of this, SK Bioscience and Incheon held the Vision-Proclamation Ceremony for Creating a Global Bio-Vaccine Ecosystem in June. At the proclamation ceremony, Incheon Metropolitan City Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, IFEZ Commissioner Kim Jin-yong, and SK Bioscience President Ahn Jae-yong promised cooperation to solidify Incheon’s status as a super-gap bio city.

Creating a Global Vaccine Ecosystem

When the global R&PD center is completed in the first half of 2025, SK Bioscience’s headquarters and research institute in Pangyo, Gyeonggi-do, will move to Songdo. This state-of-the-art R&PD center will carry out the entire process from research to commercial production. Based on the groundbreaking system, SK Bioscience plans to expand its contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) worldwide. In addition, the company aims to create a global vaccine ecosystem by securing a new platform and strengthening cooperation with international organizations, domestic and foreign bio companies, and research institutes.

To this end, SK Bioscience plans to establish an open lab at the R&PD center to cooperate with global companies and institutions. The open lab is a research space where each institution or company shares and discusses technologies or ideas through cooperation. SK Bioscience and Incheon expect this will help them become the hub of a bio ecosystem coexisting with various bio institutions and industry-academia players worldwide.

“To make Incheon a super-gap bio city, cooperation with companies with global research capabilities is essential.

In the future, we will actively cooperate with SK Bioscience to lead the bio-industry.”

Yoo Jeong-bok, Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City

“Establishing a global R&PD center will create an ecosystem to preemptively respond to new infectious diseases with domestic and foreign partners.

Centered on Songdo, we will make efforts to help Korea become a world-class bio powerhouse.”

Ahn Jae-yong, President of SK Bioscience

Location Songdo Zone 7 Techno Park Expansion Complex Sr14 Lot (178-3 Songdo-dong)

Area 30,413.8㎡

Budget KRW 325.7 billion

Completion Scheduled for 2025