Evonik Invests €80 Million to Expand Biopharma Manufacturing Capacity in Slovakia
Key Insights
Evonik (search) is investing approximately €80 million to expand downstream fermentation capabilities at its Fermas (search) site in Slovenská Ľupča, Slovakia, to support contract manufacturing services for pharmaceutical active ingredients (search).
The expansion will create around 50 new jobs and strengthens Evonik (search)'s position as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) serving global pharma and life science companies.
This marks the second major investment at the Slovak site in recent years, following the 2022 launch of industrial-scale rhamnolipid production, positioning the facility as one of Evonik (search)'s leading biotechnology centers.
Specialty chemicals company Evonik (search) is investing around €80 million to expand its biotechnology capabilities at its Fermas (search) site in Slovenská Ľupča, Slovakia, marking a significant step in the company's strategic transformation toward higher-margin pharmaceutical manufacturing services. The investment will enhance downstream fermentation capacity for manufacturing pharmaceutical active ingredients (search) and create approximately 50 new jobs.
Strategic CDMO Expansion
The expansion builds on Evonik (search)'s positioning as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing services to pharmaceutical and life science companies worldwide. According to Guido Skudlarek, head of the Health Care business line, "With demand for complex pharmaceutical ingredients continuing to rise, our enhanced biotechnology capabilities will enable us to support customers with reliable, scalable, and sustainable production."
The Fermas (search) site has undergone a complete transformation from its origins as an amino acid producer to become a broadly positioned biotech center. Today, Evonik (search) bundles expertise along the entire value chain, from fermentation through to industrial-scale purification of complex molecules, with the facility serving as a central pillar of the group's CDMO business.
Building on Previous Investments
This investment represents the second major financial commitment at the Slovak site in recent years, following the construction of Evonik (search)'s pioneering rhamnolipids (search) plant initiated in 2022. In 2024, Evonik became the first company worldwide to produce industrial-scale rhamnolipid biosurfactants at this location, marking a milestone in sustainable specialty chemicals.
The site also produces spider-silk protein (search) developed by Munich-based Amsilk (search) at industrial scale. Thanks to its diverse material properties, the protein is being positioned as a new class of materials for applications ranging from cosmetics and drug packaging to cleaning products and textile-based solutions.
Site Evolution and Regional Impact
Evonik (search) Fermas (search) was founded in 1992 as a joint venture between Degussa AG (search) and Biotika a.s. (search), initially focused on amino acid production for animal nutrition. The company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Evonik in 1998 and has since expanded into manufacturing fermentation-based products for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, personal care, and animal nutrition.
Site manager Miroslav Havlik emphasized both the global and regional significance of the expansion: "I am proud that our Slovenská Ľupča site is helping the world's leading life science companies address some of today's most pressing challenges. Our investment not only supports a more sustainable future for global health and care but also strengthens our region."
Strategic Business Transformation
The investment aligns with Evonik (search)'s broader strategic shift toward higher-margin, less cyclical business segments. The company is strengthening its CDMO offering for the pharmaceutical industry and positioning itself as a partner for industrial-scale manufacture of complex active ingredients.
Industrial biotechnology at Slovenská Ľupča has become one of Evonik (search)'s core strengths, offering career opportunities for biotechnologists, laboratory technicians, engineers, and other specialists. The site continues to expand its capacity for biofermentation scale-up and downstream processing, reinforcing its position as a hub for advanced biotechnological production.
Biotechnological processes such as fermentation enable the development of what Evonik (search) calls "Next Generation Solutions" – products and solutions that deliver superior sustainability benefits compared to conventional alternatives, further supporting the company's sustainability ambitions.