US-based science and technology company, Merck has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), and Daejeon City, South Korea for a new Asia-Pacific Bioprocessing Centre, aimed at supporting the region's healthcare ecosystem. The planned bioprocessing facility would support commercial manufacturing for biotech and pharmaceutical customers across Asia-Pacific.

Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO, Life Science said, "The proposed facility would play a vital role in fulfilling demand in the Asia-Pacific region while representing an important hub for further biopharma industry development in South Korea."

Merck also plans to work with the Daejeon government to support biotech companies based in the Daedeok Research Complex located in Daejeon, as well as expand the bio-research cooperation with leading Korean universities.