Boehringer Ingelheim announces research and development facility expansion

Boehringer Ingelheim completed its $66.1 million expansion on its research and development facility in Athens, Georgia (Image courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim)

Boehringer Ingelheim shared earlier this month that it has officially opened the expansion of its research and development facility in Athens, Georgia. This expansion was created with a capital investment of $66.1 million and created 63 new jobs for the local community. According to the organizational release,¹ the expansion added an additional 63,000 square feet of administrative space and more than 28,000 square feet of laboratory space.

"Boehringer Ingelheim’s expansion is significant for Athens-Clarke County," expressed Mayor Kelly Girtz of Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, in the Boehringer Ingelheim press release.¹ "Their commitment to sustainability and innovative solutions aligns perfectly with our city's core values. Creating local partnerships that promote eco-friendly practices and energy-efficient technologies positively impacts job growth and strengthens our community."

Boehringer Ingelheim’s recent expansion has made the facility the company’s largest R&D site within the United States and third globally. The facility will also be Boehringer Ingelheim’s largest pet vaccine production facility for the US and key manufacturing site for wildlife and poultry vaccine. This facility will also be the home for the company’s US Global Innovation Hub.¹

"Our new research and development facility in Athens marks a significant milestone in our dedication to animal health innovation," said Peter Ploeger, US Animal Health Country managing director at Boehringer Ingelheim.¹ "Each year, we invest nearly 12% of our sales into researching and developing products that will advance the health of animals, especially our pets, for generations to come.”

Expanding this facility was influenced by a plethora of factors, including its proximity to the USDA’s US National Poultry Research Center, the University of Georgia, and Boehringer Ingelheim’s recently created partnership with the Athens-Clarke County to support its Career Academy and initiate a biomanufacturing pathway.

“Georgia is the nation’s leading poultry producer, and the collaboration between the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Boehringer Ingelheim, the University of Georgia, and USDA puts our state at the forefront of animal health and research in poultry disease,” expressed Tyler Harper, Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner.¹

"We’re grateful to Boehringer Ingelheim for their commitment to our state and the Athens-Clarke County community, and we look forward to continuing to work together to ensure the health of our animals and the safety of Georgia’s food supply.”

The Georgia Department of Economic Development, Invest Athens, Metro Atlanta Chamber, and Georgia Power all helped make this expansion possible.

Reference

1. Boehringer Ingelheim Expands Research and Development in Athens, Georgia. News release. Boehringer Ingelheim. October 25, 2024. Accessed October 30, 2024. https://bi-animalhealth.com/articles/boehringer-ingelheim-research-development-facility-athens-georgia