Merck has expanded its manufacturing facility in Jigani, Bengaluru, with an investment of approximately Euro 13 million to strengthen local production of critical chemistry and biology materials for India’s life science sector and customers across the Asia-Pacific region.

The expansion will add biological buffer manufacturing to the facility’s existing chemistry capabilities, creating an integrated offering for customers in research, diagnostics, biotechnology and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The company said the investment will also support its regional supply chain and the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The expanded facility will manufacture biological buffers and raw materials for diagnostic applications used in DNA research, cell culture, diagnostics and drug manufacturing. Production will take place locally under temperature-controlled conditions, which Merck said will improve supply reliability, reduce import dependence and enable faster responses to customer requirements.

The Jigani site will support customers across the research and development, scale-up and commercial production stages. The facility has also reserved 34 percent of its site area for greenbelt, including trees and vegetation, as part of its environmental and sustainability measures.

Operational since 2003, the 10-acre Jigani facility has capabilities in specialty and fine chemicals, custom synthesis and catalogue product manufacturing. It also houses a microbiology application and training laboratory, a Stable Isotopes Manufacturing Plant established in collaboration with the Heavy Water Board under the Department of Atomic Energy, and a 7,200-square-metre temperature-controlled distribution centre.

Merck said the expansion strengthens its in-region manufacturing approach and supports the development of India’s pharmaceutical, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing ecosystems.