Thermo Fisher Scientific Expands Bengaluru R&D Center with ₹160 Crore Investment to Advance Antibody Research
Key Insights
Thermo Fisher Scientific (search) invested ₹160 crore to expand its Bengaluru R&D Centre of Excellence, adding 37,000 sq. ft. of advanced facilities focused on antibody design, development, and manufacturing.
The Bengaluru facility has developed over 2,000 recombinant antibodies (search) contributing to infectious diseases (search), antiviral studies, and cancer (search) biology research over the past 18 years.
The expansion is expected to create over 100 new jobs in Karnataka and strengthens the state's position as a biotechnology hub with a bioeconomy valued at USD 31 billion.
American life sciences company Thermo Fisher Scientific (search) has inaugurated a major expansion of its Research and Development Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, investing ₹160 crore to advance innovation in antibody research and manufacturing. The 37,000 sq. ft. expansion, equipped with advanced automation and analytical platforms, is expected to create over 100 new jobs in Karnataka in the coming years.
Strategic Investment in Antibody Innovation
The expanded facility will focus on antibody design, development, and manufacturing, building upon the center's established track record in life sciences research. Over the past 18 years, Thermo Fisher's Bengaluru Centre of Excellence has developed more than 2,000 high-quality recombinant antibodies (search) that have contributed to advancements in infectious diseases (search), antiviral studies and cancer (search) biology.
The facility's comprehensive capabilities include an antibody validation program that has tested over 25,000 antibodies, while manufacturing capabilities have produced more than 2,000 primary and secondary antibodies (search), ensuring quality and reproducibility for researchers worldwide.
Government and Industry Leadership Support
The expansion was inaugurated by Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, CEO of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (search) (KDEM), with senior officials from KDEM, KEONICS (search), and the Karnataka Innovation & Technology Society (search) (KITS) in attendance.
"Through our Karnataka Biotechnology Mission and aligned state policies, we are enabling innovation, nurturing talent, and facilitating collaboration between government, academia and industry. Thermo Fisher's expansion strengthens Karnataka's capability to contribute meaningfully to India's broader biotechnology vision," said Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT & Bt and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka.
Company's Long-term Commitment to India
Gianluca Pettiti, Executive Vice President and Sector President, Life Sciences, Diagnostics and Applied Sector at Thermo Fisher Scientific (search), emphasized the strategic importance of the Bengaluru location. "Bengaluru is a strategic hub for Thermo Fisher, and this expansion reflects our long-term commitment to India. By investing in talent and capabilities here, we aim to accelerate scientific progress and better serve customers in India and globally," Pettiti stated.
The investment reinforces the company's commitment to India's innovation ecosystem, with Thermo Fisher currently employing more than 1,400 professionals in Bengaluru across R&D, software, and scientific product teams.
Karnataka's Biotechnology Leadership
The expansion aligns with Karnataka's position as India's biotechnology leader. The state contributes over 10% of India's pharmaceutical revenues and nearly 60% of its biotechnology revenues, with a bioeconomy valued at around USD 31 billion. Karnataka also hosts 221 formulation units, 74 bulk drug units, and 35 contract research organizations (CROs).
Dr. Manjula N, a senior government official, noted that such investments align with Karnataka's vision to foster high-end research and industry-academia linkages. "Facilities like these catalyze Karnataka's emergence as a preferred location for advanced manufacturing and research, driving socio-economic growth in the life sciences domain," she said.
Global R&D Network Enhancement
Manoj Prasad, Vice President, IT & Digital Solutions, APAC & MEA at Thermo Fisher Scientific (search), highlighted how the expansion will strengthen the company's global research capabilities. "This reinforces our faith in India's potential as a life sciences innovation leader. With this new infrastructure and talent infusion, we can accelerate discovery and support customers in biotech, diagnostics, and academia," he said.
The expansion aligns with Karnataka's Global Capability Center (GCC) ambitions, further establishing the state as a destination for high-value, research-driven operations integrating discovery, design, and manufacturing in the life sciences sector.