First Lilly Gateway Labs site outside US, China to be completed in Incheon’s Songdo by July 2027
Samsung Biologics and Eli Lilly are partnering to launch an open innovation hub in South Korea for emerging biotech companies. This marks the first Lilly Gateway Labs (LGL) location outside of the United States and China.
Announced Tuesday by Samsung Biologics, the collaboration will establish a Lilly Gateway Labs site within Samsung Biologics’ second bio campus, located in Songdo, Incheon. This initiative aims to foster growth and innovation within the Korean biotechnology sector.
The Lilly Gateway Labs facility will be a five-story building boasting over 11,600 square meters of floor space. It will feature laboratory space, cutting-edge research infrastructure, collaborative work areas, and operational support facilities. The site is designed to accommodate up to 30 biotech companies, jointly selected by Samsung Biologics and Eli Lilly, and is slated for completion in July 2027.
This strategic partnership will provide customized scientific support to resident biotech companies, promoting collaboration throughout the Korean life sciences industry.
“This initiative underscores Samsung Biologics’ unwavering dedication to advancing innovation across the entire health care ecosystem,” stated Samsung Biologics CEO John Rim.
“By establishing a global open innovation platform in Korea, in conjunction with Lilly’s Gateway Labs network, we aim to bolster the domestic bio-industry and seamlessly integrate it with the global innovation landscape. This platform will cultivate an environment where promising scientific breakthroughs can evolve into novel, life-saving therapies, driving sustainable industry growth, enhancing patient care, and fostering healthier communities.”
The LGL model is designed to accelerate drug discovery and development for resident companies by providing access to vital infrastructure and connecting founders and scientists with Eli Lilly’s extensive global network of experts.
Since the inaugural LGL site opened in San Diego in 2019, resident companies have secured over $3 billion in funding to support the development of more than 50 therapeutic programs. Currently, LGL sites are operational in Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Beijing.
LGL is a key component of Catalyze360, a global pharmaceutical initiative by Eli Lilly designed to bolster biotech innovation through access to strategic capital, advanced lab space and technology, and comprehensive R&D capabilities.
“This collaboration signifies a major expansion of Gateway Labs’ global footprint,” said Julie Gilmore, Global Head of Lilly Gateway Labs and Catalyze360 Portfolio Management.
“Korea has become a dynamic hub for life sciences innovation, characterized by exceptional scientific talent. By establishing Gateway Labs here, we are creating a vital hub where early-stage companies can access the resources, expertise, and connections necessary to expedite their journey from initial discovery to full-scale development, thereby strengthening biotech innovation both locally and globally.”
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