The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, and Merck to establish a Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.
This centre is a large-scale workforce training hub intended to support the state’s growing biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
“This partnership will unlock a diverse pipeline of highly skilled talent, strengthen US supply chains, and accelerate the delivery of innovative medicines to patients,” said Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer at AstraZeneca.
The MOU, announced this week, formalises a public-private effort to prepare workers for industry expansion. Collectively, the three pharmaceutical giants have committed $120m towards developing the manufacturing hub.
The investment builds directly on the $12.5bn of capital expenditures expansion investment in Virginia from the three global life science companies, which will create thousands of new jobs over the next several years.
Capital expenditures expansion investment is the funding used to acquire or upgrade long-term assets, such as buildings, machinery, or technology, to increase future revenue or productivity.
Building the biopharma talent pipeline
According to VIPC, the new hub will provide hands-on, industry-aligned training for students, early-career workers and experienced professionals seeking upskilling.
Programmes will range from technician preparation to advanced degrees, with options for micro-credentials, apprenticeships and internships.
The facility will operate as a “neutral training environment” designed in collaboration with the three pharmaceutical companies to reflect real-world manufacturing and quality-control conditions.
The goal of the hub will be to produce job-ready workers who can move directly into high-demand roles at biopharma manufacturing sites across the state.
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