A Major Investment in Biotechnology Manufacturing
Evonik has broken ground on a new biotechnology expansion project at its Fermas site in Slovenská Ľupča, Slovakia, marking the next major milestone in an approximately €80 million investment in its biotechnology capabilities.
The project will strengthen Evonik’s contract manufacturing services for its drug substance business, while expanding the site’s ability to develop and manufacture complex pharmaceutical intermediates.
Construction is expected to be completed in early 2028, with approximately 50 new jobs set to be created at the site.
Expanding Advanced Fermentation Technology
A key element of the investment will be the addition of advanced downstream fermentation technology, increasing the site’s manufacturing capacity and strengthening Evonik’s precision fermentation platform.
Biotechnology is becoming increasingly important across pharmaceutical manufacturing, particularly for the production of complex molecules that can require sophisticated processes and specialist expertise.
For Evonik, the expansion will provide additional capacity to support customers looking to move biotechnology processes towards industrial-scale production.
The investment also reflects the growing demand for manufacturing solutions that combine scalability with more sustainable production methods.
Supporting More Sustainable Manufacturing
Fermentation-based manufacturing can offer a more sustainable route to selected pharmaceutical intermediates compared with conventional chemical synthesis.
The approach can reduce the need for organic solvents and minimise process-related waste, making advanced biotechnology an increasingly important part of the wider manufacturing landscape.
The Fermas site already operates using 100 percent green electricity and uses renewable and certified raw materials in selected production processes.
The expansion therefore brings together increased manufacturing capacity with Evonik’s focus on developing more sustainable industrial processes.
Strengthening Slovakia’s Biotechnology Sector
The investment also reinforces the importance of Evonik Fermas within Slovakia’s biotechnology and manufacturing landscape.
Founded in 1992, the site has more than three decades of fermentation expertise and has evolved from an amino acid production facility into a strategic biotechnology manufacturing hub.
Today, the facility serves a range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, personal care, nutrition and specialty chemicals.
Its development has also been supported by close relationships with local universities, helping to maintain a strong pipeline of qualified engineers while supporting research, innovation and specialist manufacturing expertise.
Building on Previous Investment
The latest expansion follows significant investment in biotechnology at the Slovenská Ľupča site in recent years.
Fermas has become an important location for Evonik’s wider biotechnology activities, including the development of the world’s first industrial-scale rhamnolipid biosurfactant production facility.
The project demonstrated how biotechnology can move beyond research and development into large-scale industrial manufacturing, creating new opportunities for bio-based production.
The latest investment builds on that experience by further expanding the site’s capabilities for pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications.
From Innovation to Industrial Scale
For Evonik, the expansion represents another step in developing biotechnology solutions that can be delivered at industrial scale.
The combination of advanced fermentation technology, established manufacturing expertise and a growing specialist workforce positions the Fermas site to play an important role in the company’s biotechnology strategy.
With construction now underway and completion expected in early 2028, the €80 million investment is set to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in Slovakia while creating new employment and supporting the continued development of more sustainable biotechnology production.
Source: Evonik
Image: Evonik