Sartorius opens new competence center for cell and gene therapy components in Freiburg

(Sartorius Freiburg)

(Sartorius Freiburg)

(Sartorius Freiburg)

(Sartorius Freiburg)

(Sartorius Freiburg)

– Production capacity of quality-critical materials for the dynamic cell and gene therapy market in Freiburg more than doubled
– Opening in the Haid industrial park with around 180 guests
– Investment amount of more than 140 million euros
– Future-proof building technology: no use of fossil fuels

The life sciences company Sartorius has opened a new competence center in Freiburg im Breisgau for the development and production of quality-critical materials for the cell and gene therapy market. In Freiburg, the company produces essential components such as cytokines or growth factors used in innovative therapies. With an investment of more than 140 million euros, Sartorius affirms its strategic focus on the emerging business field: cell and gene therapies are gaining significant global importance and already account for around 30 percent of the development pipelines for medicines today.

"Cell and gene therapies give patients worldwide hope for cures for diseases that were previously considered untreatable. Cytokines, growth factors, and cell culture media are crucial for the development and manufacturing of these innovative therapies. The Freiburg site is an important part of our global network for these critical materials and this dynamic market, which demands high speed, scalability, and process safety. With the significantly expanded capacities, we can respond much more flexibly to the demands of our biopharma customers and support them even better in bringing cell and gene therapies to patients faster and more efficiently," said René Fáber, Head of the Bioprocess Solutions division and member of Sartorius' Executive Board.

In the Haid industrial park, state-of-the-art production, laboratory, and office spaces have been created on approximately 18,000 square meters for up to 180 employees. The new building meets the highest GMP quality standards and thus strict requirements of the biopharmaceutical industry. Additionally, due to innovative building technology, it operates entirely without fossil fuels: geothermal energy provides heat, well water for cooling, and photovoltaic systems for electricity generation. The construction has already been awarded the Gold pre-certification by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) for its consistent focus on sustainability.

"The expansion of the site is the result of very close and constructive collaboration over many years. We would like to especially highlight the support of the city of Freiburg as well as the involved planning, construction, and technology partners. Together, a place has been created here that combines cutting-edge research and production technology with sustainability," said Daniel Spatz, Managing Director of Sartorius CellGenix in Freiburg.

The opening of the new plant marks an important milestone in the development of the Freiburg site: In 2021, Sartorius acquired the majority of CellGenix GmbH, founded in 1994 at the University Hospital Freiburg; since early 2026, the company has been fully integrated into the Sartorius Group. Over the past five years, the number of employees in Freiburg has nearly doubled to around 140 people.

The site expansion in Freiburg is part of a long-term investment program to expand Sartorius' global development and manufacturing network. The goal is to prepare the company for further organic growth, strengthen its resilience, and continue to ensure high delivery reliability and consistent product quality across all locations.