Gov. Holcomb, Evonik leaders break ground on $220 million Lafayette expansion

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb joined Evonik executives Wednesday to break ground on the company's new $220 million Lafayette facility.

Evonik's CEO Christian Kullmann and executive board members of the company celebrated the beginning of construction on the Tippecanoe County lipid production facility.

In June 2022, the Germany-based drug delivery technologies company announced that it would be investing in its Lafayette campus to build a new lipid production facility aimed at studying mRNA-based therapies.

What are mRNA-based therapies?

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, as described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teach our cells to produce a protein that boosts our immune system and were key to the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

“Our new Lipid Innovation Center will secure the health innovations of tomorrow. Through this investment we reinforce our leading position in the pharmaceutical industry. We are privileged to support the U.S. with pandemic preparedness and enable the development of cutting-edge medicines,” Kullmann said.

The new lipid facility is expected to create more than 80 highly skilled jobs in the Greater Lafayette region. Over the project life cycle, it’s expected to bring in an additional 300 contractor positions.

The construction of the facility is expected to be completed by 2025, with production starting that same year.

“Evonik’s decision to build this new facility, and add 80 high-paying jobs, in Indiana is reflective of our state’s highly trained workforce and the business-friendly environment we have worked to create,” Holcomb said.

“We are proud to support this life science-related project.”

Playing a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Evonik was a leading vaccine producer when it came to making sure pharmaceutical lipids were available.

In novel mRNA vaccines, lipids protect the messenger RNA (mRNA) and ensure its safe delivery into the cell.

Lipids play an important role when it comes to the development of mRNA technology in infectious disease control, cancer immunotherapy, protein replacement and gene therapy.  

As part of the total $220 million invested into this new facility, the U.S. government has entered a cooperative agreement with Evonik for a cost share of up to $150 million through its Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

BARDA promotes the advanced development of medical countermeasures to respond to health security threats and coordinated acquisition assistance with the Department of Defense (DOD) Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND).

“Evonik’s strategic expansion at Tippecanoe is fantastic news for the entire Greater Lafayette region,” said Scott Walker, president and CEO of Greater Lafayette Commerce.

“The Town of Shadeland, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, the Purdue Research Foundation, and Greater Lafayette Commerce all supported this effort and not only look forward to the high-value jobs it will create, but also the important role the new Lipid Innovation Center will play in our nation’s vaccine preparedness.”