South Korean Biopharma, Celltrion Group, is bolstering its CDMO services with a new research center in India which will operated by the newly established subsidiary Celltrion BioSolutions. With an initial capital of USD 6.9 mn, the manufacturing capacity will start at 100,000 liters to serve Celltrion's internal needs, with potential expansion to 200,000 liters. The company aims to recruit or internally train 500 Ph.D.-level scientists to support its sites in Korea, the U.S., Europe, and India.

In addition, the company plans to invest a further ~USD 2 mn in the venture. Although the company plans to raise funds internally, company chairman, Seo Jung-Jin suggested that the company would also consider external financing, as long as the company retains over 50% ownership in such a scenario.

The following article originally appeared in Korea Biomedical Review.

Celltrion Group Chairman Seo Jung-jin said the company plans to establish a research center in India as part of its global expansion into the contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business.

The move comes as the group seeks to recruit specialized research personnel for its new CDMO subsidiary, Celltrion BioSolutions.

"India will be a cost-effective option for recruiting research personnel," Chairman Seo said during a press briefing on the establishment of Celltrion BioSolutions. “The company aims to secure approximately 500 Ph.D.-level scientists across its planned research centers in Korea, the U.S., Europe, and India.”

While Seo did not elaborate on how many research personnel would be recruited in each country, he did stress that while Korea would remain the headquarters for research and development, the Indian facility would play a crucial role in handling specialized repetitive testing and research tasks.

According to Seo, the selection of India aligns with Celltrion's strategy to create a global research network that maximizes efficiency while controlling costs.

“The Indian research center, along with planned facilities in the U.S. and Europe, will be integrated with the company's existing network of 40 overseas legal entities,” he said. “This expansion builds on Celltrion's established presence in the region and aims to leverage India's growing biotechnology sector and skilled workforce.”

When questioned about the research center's staffing strategy, Seo stressed that starting with 20-30 employees in early 2025, the company plans to focus on training new graduates rather than hiring experienced staff.

"We are confident in nurturing new entrants to become skilled personnel," he said, pointing to this approach as a key reason for choosing India, where the company sees a strong pipeline of emerging scientific talent.

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