Groundbreaking: Takeda builds lab of the future in Vienna
New research and development laboratory in Vienna's Donaustadt district
The biopharmaceutical company Takeda is investing a three-digit million Euro amount in a technically and ecologically optimized new building for biopharmaceutical research and development in Vienna's Seestadt Aspern region. This is the largest investment in research and development to date by the company in Austria, which has been operating in Vienna for almost 70 years. From 2026, around 250 researchers will be working at this new site on innovative new therapies for diseases with high unmet need. The facility will be constructed as a “Green Building” to the highest ecological standards.
Andy Plump, President of Takeda's global Research & Development division attended the ceremonial groundbreaking and explains why this building will be a “lab of the future”: “Our "Lab of the Future" in Vienna will include modern technologies and innovative systems that will support our scientists in developing transformative therapeutics for patients around the world while achieving sustainability for our planet. This project also represents a clear commitment by Takeda to Austria as a critical site for our innovative research and development efforts.”
Dr. Manfred Rieger, Site Head of Takeda's Research & Development division in Austria states: “I am particularly pleased that we are now taking the next step after the planning phase. In our new building, we will be able to make even better use of our many years of knowledge and experience to develop innovative therapeutics – from the selection of a product candidate, through the preclinical and clinical phases, and all the way to approval. The new laboratory will also provide a platform for collaborations and partnerships with leading scientific institutions and research organizations. By sharing expertise and resources, Takeda aims to foster collaboration with the scientific community, thereby driving progress for the benefit of all patients.”
Success story: health hub Vienna
The groundbreaking ceremony took place in the presence of high-ranking representatives from politics, business, and research. Representing Vienna's mayor Michael Ludwig, Peter Hanke, the Executive City Councilor of Finance, Business, Labour, International Affairs and Vienna Public Utilities took part in the groundbreaking ceremony. “Vienna has long been one of the top healthcare locations in the world. We see Takeda's new “Lab of the Future” in the Seestadt Aspern region as a sign that international companies also appreciate our city and make a conscious decision to choose Vienna as a business location. For us, this is also motivation to continue to promote and support the life sciences sector in Vienna through the public sector. Together, we can make an important contribution to the health of patients worldwide from Vienna,” emphasizes Hanke.
Takeda’s new R&D building in Vienna not only has a local significance, but also underlines the international cooperation between Japan and Austria, as Mr. Mizuuchi Ryuta, the Ambassador of Japan to Austria describes: “With the current construction of this new laboratory, Takeda Austria is launching a forward-looking element of innovation that will not only transform the Vienna Aspern-Seestadt site into a world-leading life science center, but also have a lasting impact as a symbol of the Japanese-Austrian industrial and scientific cooperation. I cannot but hope that the "Lab of the Future" with its approximately 250 researchers, will make a decisive contribution to the fight against cancer, neurological diseases, as well as other complex disease, based on the existing Japanese-Austrian cooperation.”
The Lab of the Future
In Vienna is the European site of Takeda Pharmaceutical Sciences, a division of the global research and development organization. Takeda supports the most innovative research approaches and develops them to market. The team performs world-class research and development in the therapeutic areas of neurology, gastroenterology oncology, rare and complex diseases with high unmet need. The special focus of activities is on biotechnologically produced drugs, so-called biologics. In addition, there is a major focus on the digitalization of research and development work supported by innovative technologies such as robotics, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and the simulation of processes using digital twins. Also, to advance these fields in science, the new building in Vienna’s Seestadt Aspern region will set international standards. Takeda looks back on a long history in research, development, and production in Vienna.
The investment also strengthens Austria as a life-science location, a goal that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy, Austria has been pursuing for decades. On behalf of the Federal Minister of Labour and Economy Univ.-Prof. Dr. Martin Kocher, the Secretary General Mag. Eva Landrichtinger participated in the groundbreaking ceremony: “With today's groundbreaking ceremony we are initiating an important project – not only for Takeda, but for the entire business and research location of Austria. The "Lab of the Future" will provide researchers with a state-of-the-art center and create significant highly qualified jobs. This will also support Austria's role as a strong player in the global life science industry.”
Sustainable investment in a green building
The building will be designed to be certified as a Total Quality Building (TQB). This includes accessibility and comfort standards, but above all many ecological aspects - from resource-saving energy efficiency and the use of sustainable energy sources to greenery and garden spaces designed in the style of the Takeda Garden in Japan. The fact that the new building will be a CO2 emission-free green building will help achieve Takeda's sustainability goals.
"I am proud that we, as a financial partner, can contribute to this project, which is so important and forward-looking both for our long-standing customer Takeda in Austria and for the city of Vienna as a business and research location. By investing in the new site, Takeda is securing jobs for highly qualified researchers and further expanding its expertise. I am particularly pleased that this is a sustainable building, because the issue of sustainability is an essential part of our business strategy and our core business," says Dieter Hengl, Member of the Management Board for Corporates at UniCredit Bank Austria, whose subsidiary UniCredit Leasing provided the financing for this project.
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