Maryland’s life sciences ecosystem continues to attract global biopharmaceutical leaders, as three major international companies—Syngene International, Nature Cell, and Samsung Biologics—announced plans to establish their first U.S. biomanufacturing facilities in the state in 2025. These strategic decisions together are expected to create approximately 800 new jobs and retain more than 500 existing positions, underscoring Maryland’s emergence as a premier destination for advanced manufacturing and global life sciences investment.
Global Firms Choose Maryland as Strategic U.S. Hub
Syngene International, a Bengaluru-based contract research, development, and manufacturing organization, is establishing a 100,000-square-foot biologics manufacturing facility in Baltimore City — the company’s first in the United States. With projected operations ramping through the end of 2025 and 300 new jobs, Syngene is positioning itself to better serve U.S. clients and expand its global footprint. “We are very pleased to start our U.S. manufacturing operations in Maryland,” said Peter Bains, Managing Director and CEO of Syngene International. “Maryland is one of the leading biopharma clusters in the U.S. and we are excited to contribute to this vibrant ecosystem and the region’s economy.”
Nature Cell, a South Korean biotechnology and stem cell therapy firm, selected Baltimore City for a new 100,000-square-foot stem cell manufacturing and R&D campus, expected to create around 500 jobs by 2031. Citing Maryland’s advanced research environment and workforce strength, Dr. Jeong-Chan Ra, Chairman of Nature Cell, noted: “We have chosen Maryland for the site… after a comprehensive evaluation of the state’s exceptional ecosystem for our business. Maryland offers an abundant pool of highly-skilled technical talent that is critical to establishing global leadership and setting industry standards in stem cell therapeutics.”
Samsung Biologics, South Korea’s largest biotech CDMO, announced the acquisition of GSK’s Rockville manufacturing facility — its first U.S. manufacturing site. While the company’s announcement focused on long-term capability expansion, CEO and President John Rim emphasized: “This landmark acquisition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to advancing global healthcare and bolstering our manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. … we look forward to building on the legacy of this facility … and continue delivering innovative solutions that make a meaningful impact.”
The site will preserve more than 500 jobs and expand biologics manufacturing capacity in the region.
These international facility openings are part of broader life sciences and biomanufacturing momentum in Maryland:
- AstraZeneca announced a $2 billion expansion across Frederick and Gaithersburg, adding over 500 new jobs and retaining hundreds more, reinforcing the state’s position as a critical U.S. hub for biologics production.
- Bora Pharmaceuticals invested $15 million in facility upgrades in Baltimore to support site growth and future capacity.
These expansions further solidify Maryland’s role not just in research and discovery, but in manufacturing the next generation of medicines and therapeutics.
A Strong Workforce and Training Ecosystem Underpin Growth
Maryland’s success in attracting international biomanufacturing investments is deeply connected to its skilled workforce and workforce development infrastructure. The state benefits from one of the nation’s most concentrated and highly trained biotech talent pools, anchored by world-class research institutions, federal agencies, and a pipeline of trained professionals ready to meet industry demand.
Programs like Montgomery College’s Biomanufacturing Boot Camp, certificate offerings, and associate degree pathways — alongside Frederick Community College’s biomanufacturing track and BioHub Maryland initiatives — are equipping students with job-ready skills tailored to the needs of modern biomanufacturing facilities. These programs help ensure that Maryland’s workforce remains competitive and that emerging talent can step directly into high-impact careers as facilities scale up production.
Building the Ecosystem and Capacity for the Future
To sustain this growth, local and regional partners are convening thought leaders and industry stakeholders:
PICMC is hosting a program at Montgomery College entitled “Reshoring the future of US Manufacturing“, featuring speakers from AstraZeneca, ABL, BioBuzz, and retired Colonel Vic Suárez to explore how Maryland can continue to lead in biomanufacturing reshoring and talent development.
In addition, BioBuzz is launching the MOORE-Bio program in 2026, funded by TEDCO, to boost pathways into life sciences careers for under-represented communities and strengthen Maryland’s talent pipeline—ensuring that the benefits of industry growth are broadly shared.
With a robust workforce, strategic public-private collaboration, and a growing roster of domestic and international manufacturing commitments, Maryland is well-positioned to continue its ascent as a leading U.S. hub for biomanufacturing. These investments signal not only job creation but also strengthened supply chain resilience and deeper integration into the global biotech ecosystem—anchoring Maryland’s future in the life sciences.
