Belgian Drugmaker UCB to Invest $2B in Suburban Atlanta Plant, Adding 330 Jobs

Why It Matters

Georgia is set to receive a major economic boost as Belgian biopharmaceutical company UCB announces a $2 billion investment in a new manufacturing facility in the suburban Atlanta area. The project represents one of the largest single foreign direct investments in the state’s pharmaceutical and life sciences sector in recent memory.

The deal underscores Georgia’s growing reputation as a destination for advanced manufacturing and biotechnology, strengthening the state’s economic foundation and diversifying its industrial base beyond its traditional automotive and logistics anchors.

What Happened

UCB, a Brussels-based global biopharmaceutical company specializing in neurology and immunology treatments, announced plans to build a major production facility in the suburban Atlanta region. The plant is expected to manufacture biologic medicines, which are complex therapies derived from living cells and used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, and psoriasis.

The announcement was made in coordination with Georgia state economic development officials, who have been actively recruiting life sciences manufacturers to the region. The facility will serve as a key node in UCB’s North American supply chain, supporting the company’s expanding portfolio of biologic drug products for the U.S. market.

UCB currently operates globally across more than 40 countries, with a significant commercial and research presence in the United States. The Georgia facility will mark one of the company’s most substantial capital investments in American soil.

By the Numbers

• $2 billion — Total capital investment committed by UCB for the suburban Atlanta manufacturing facility.
• 330 jobs — Number of new full-time positions expected to be created at the plant, with roles spanning manufacturing, quality control, engineering, and operations.
• 40+ — Number of countries in which UCB currently maintains operations, reflecting the company’s established global footprint.
• $1.6 billion+ — UCB’s approximate annual research and development expenditure globally, illustrating the company’s commitment to advanced therapeutic pipelines.
• Multi-year timeline — Construction and commissioning of the facility is expected to unfold over several years, with phased hiring aligned to production milestones.

Zoom Out

UCB’s investment in Georgia fits into a broader national trend of pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers reshoring or expanding U.S.-based production capacity. Following supply chain disruptions exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, many global drugmakers have accelerated plans to establish domestic manufacturing footprints to reduce dependence on overseas suppliers.

Federal policy has also played a role in driving these decisions. Provisions within the CHIPS and Science Act and broader Biden-era industrial policy frameworks offered incentives designed to attract advanced manufacturing back to the United States, including within the life sciences sector.

Georgia has been particularly aggressive in competing for these investments. The state has positioned itself as a life sciences hub through targeted tax incentives, workforce development programs at institutions like Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, and infrastructure investments in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Other states including North Carolina, Indiana, and Massachusetts have attracted similar large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing announcements in recent years, making competition for these projects intense.

The suburban Atlanta corridor has seen significant industrial growth in recent years, with companies drawn by its logistics infrastructure, access to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and a large and diverse labor pool.

What’s Next

UCB and Georgia economic development officials are expected to finalize site agreements and permitting processes in the coming months. State and local incentive packages, which may include tax credits, infrastructure support, and workforce training grants, are likely to be formally approved through the relevant legislative and administrative channels.

Construction timelines will depend on permitting approvals and the resolution of any local zoning considerations. Once groundbreaking occurs, the facility is anticipated to move through phased construction before reaching initial operational capacity, at which point hiring for the first wave of the 330 promised positions is expected to begin.

UCB is also expected to partner with local educational and technical institutions to develop training pipelines for the specialized biomanufacturing workforce the plant will require. Georgia’s Quick Start program, a nationally recognized workforce training initiative offered at no cost to qualifying companies, may play a role in preparing workers for the facility’s technical demands.

State officials and community leaders in the suburban Atlanta area will be monitoring the project closely as a potential catalyst for further life sciences investment in the region.