The government is actively exploring support measures for the bio industry, and the Songdo Bio Cluster is expanding its territory into a 'Bio Mega Cluster.' According to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority on the 9th, the existing bio cluster centered on Songdo 4th, 5th, and 7th districts is expanding into the 11th district.

Major domestic bio companies such as Samsung Biologics and Celltrion are pursuing large-scale facility expansions in the 11th district, and bio companies in materials, parts, and equipment that have collaborative relationships with these companies are also seeking to enter Songdo. Samsung Biologics' progress towards becoming the world's number one in biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) is unstoppable. In June this year, the company was selected as the preferred negotiation partner for an industrial site (Block 1-ChumC9, 187,827 m²) in Songdo 11th district, with the land price alone reaching KRW 249.2 billion.

Samsung Biologics plans to build its third bio campus on this site. It is adjacent to the 1st and 2nd campuses (Plants 1-8), and is expected to maximize future production capacity. The 3rd campus is approximately twice the size of the 5th plant, and at least two additional plants are expected to be constructed. The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority is negotiating with Samsung Biologics with the goal of signing a land sale contract in October. Samsung Biologics, which currently has a total production capacity of 784,000 liters through Plants 1-5, plans to expand Plants 6-8 by 2032 to secure a total production capacity of 1,324,000 liters.

Celltrion, the first resident company of the Songdo Bio Cluster, is reportedly pursuing the expansion of research and development (R&D) and production facilities in Songdo 11th district. Celltrion announced earlier this year its goal to build a plant for its CDMO subsidiary, Celltrion BioSolutions. Celltrion is discussing with the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority the conversion of land originally intended for the Incheon Customs public office in the 11th district into industrial land to expand production facilities.

Lotte Biologics is also constructing a plant on approximately 202,285 m² of industrial land in Songdo 11th district. It plans to start commercial production in 2027 and build three plants by 2030, with a total antibody drug production capacity of 360,000 liters.

Global bio materials, parts, and equipment companies are also moving into the Songdo Bio Cluster to collaborate with these large companies. This is why the Songdo Bio Cluster is gaining attention as an R&D hub that serves as the 'brain' beyond just a biopharmaceutical production base.

Germany's Sartorius Korea Operations, a bio raw material company, began construction of production and research facilities on 24,434 m² of industrial land in the Songdo 5th district advanced industrial cluster (B) in 2023. The construction is in full swing with the goal of completion and operation in the second half of this year (July-December). The German global bio materials and parts company Merck is operating manufacturing facilities and an R&D center in Songdo, and Cytiva has established its first domestic manufacturing facility, the 'Cytiva Korea Innovation Hub,' in Incheon Songdo.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority has increased industrial and research facility land in Songdo 11th district (Advanced Industrial Cluster C) in line with the expansion of production facilities by bio companies. In June this year, it completed changes to the development and implementation plans, expanding industrial and research facility land from 990,000 m² to 1,320,000 m².

Yoon Won-seok, Commissioner of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, stated, "Songdo is expected to leap forward as a global bio hub encompassing research and development, clinical trials, and production, beyond just a production base."

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