AstraZeneca invests INR ₹166 crore in Bangalore, creating 400 jobs
AstraZeneca has announced the expansion of its Global Hub in Bangalore with an investment of INR ₹166 crore, creating 400 new jobs to support research and development, global services, and artificial intelligence innovation.
The new facility will accommodate nearly 1,300 employees, increasing AstraZeneca's local workforce and bolstering its focus on AI-driven projects in Research and Development, Global Business Services, IT, and Digital Health. This development follows closely behind AstraZeneca's expansion of its Global Innovation and Technology Centre in Chennai, marking the second major investment by the company in India within a year.
With these developments, AstraZeneca India Private Limited's total workforce will approach 4,000 employees. The company has indicated that these expansions are aimed at strengthening its capacity to provide medicines worldwide.
Company focus
Jackie Crockford, Vice President, Global Business Services, AstraZeneca, commented on the significance of the Bangalore hub, highlighting its strategic role for the company's future medicines development.
Our Global Hub in Bangalore is a strategic investment that will play a vital role in advancing AstraZeneca's bold ambition to deliver 20 new medicines by 2030 — by strengthening automated, scalable, data-driven, and patient-centric solutions. This step reflects our commitment to tapping into the world-class talent and ecosystem available in Karnataka to power the next generation of scientific innovation. We are equally committed to decarbonize our operations and value chain, and the hub supports our net zero ambition
Magnus Nord, Vice President, Global Patient Safety BioPharma, AstraZeneca, also emphasised the advantages of having the hub in Bangalore.
This hub enhances our R&D capabilities by connecting us with India's exceptional scientific and technological expertise. The expansion will accelerate the development of innovative medicines and help us deliver across R&D, ultimately benefitting patients around the world
Hub initiatives
The company has outlined several key priorities for the new facility. These include advanced clinical research supporting AstraZeneca's global therapeutic areas, the development of AI-powered healthcare solutions and digital health technologies, and centralised data analytics designed to improve clinical trial efficiency and patient outcomes. The hub will also provide specialised support for regulatory compliance and pharmacovigilance on a global scale.
AstraZeneca has also made environmental sustainability a core aspect of the Bangalore Global Hub. The facility is on track to achieve LEED Platinum certification, runs on 75% green energy, and incorporates comprehensive waste-water recycling and IoT-enabled systems for energy management.
Government response
The expansion has been welcomed by officials in Karnataka. Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister of Health & Family Welfare for the Government of Karnataka, pointed out that AstraZeneca's investment affirms both the state's and India's prominence in science and healthcare innovation.
AstraZeneca's investment reaffirms India's leadership in science, technology, and healthcare, and is a testament to Karnataka's robust life sciences ecosystem. This expansion aligns perfectly with our vision to create high-value employment opportunities while fostering innovation in critical sectors, making Bangalore a global hub for biotechnology and R&D
By augmenting its R&D and technological efforts, AstraZeneca aims to draw on the strengths of Bangalore and the wider Karnataka region, including its skilled workforce and vibrant life sciences landscape.
Sustainability efforts
The company's efforts to design an environmentally sustainable facility include advanced systems for energy and water saving. These initiatives are in line with AstraZeneca's broader goal to decarbonise its operations and value chain globally.
The expansion of the Global Hub is part of AstraZeneca's commitment to accessing talent and science expertise in India and supporting its endeavours to develop and deliver new medicines around the world.
