Novartis’ Steady Investments in Slovenia Result in New Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility and a Growing Work Force

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Novartis has strengthened its presence in Slovenia following the official opening in February 2025 of a new viral vector production facility (VIFA One) in Mengeš. Novartis invested €40 million (US$43 million) into the facility, which is the company’s first specialized viral vector manufacturing facility in Europe (1). With this investment, Novartis significantly expands its research and production capabilities in the biopharmaceutical sector.

The facility will support the production of viral vectors for breakthrough cell and gene therapies (CGTs) developed for treating certain autoimmune and genetic diseases and cancers. The facility features a fully automated production environment, including advanced robotics, designed to ensure precision and efficiency at all stages of the production process under one roof. The facility also introduces a state-of-the-art methodology aimed at setting a new industry standard but also significantly increasing Novartis’ capabilities to deliver breakthrough therapies under the highest quality standards (1).

Construction on the new facility began in 2023 and represents a significant boost to both the Slovenian economy and the country’s scientific community. "Novartis investments, which are among the leading foreign direct investments in the country, have made a significant contribution to the development of Slovenian science over the past two decades,” said Igor Papič, PhD, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia, during the facility’s opening ceremony in February, where he was the keynote speaker (1). “I am pleased that Novartis is successfully cooperating with universities and scientific research institutions, and that it places great emphasis on developing young talent and transferring knowledge into practice. Cooperation between business and science and a stimulating scientific research and innovation environment, which is also supported by the State with generous funding, are key to the successful development of Slovenian society. They also create an environment that will be even more attractive to foreign investment."

The opening of the Mengeš facility follows a cycle of intense investment by Novartis in Slovenia. In 2024, Novartis’s investments in the country had a total value of €257 million (US$277 million) and mainly focused on the construction of new facilities and the introduction of new technologies (2).

A combination of the new investments and growth in business activity resulted in the need for new employees, leading to a growth in workforce in Slovenia in 2024. In that year, Novartis hired more than 560 new staff in Slovenia, bringing its total workforce in the country to more than 3900 employees by year’s end. Novartis also signed a strategic partnership with the University of Ljubljana, which further strengthened the company’s cooperation with academia and contributes to the joint development of knowledge and innovation (2).

“Novartis globally invested US$9.3 billion in research and development in 2024,” said Aymeric Royere, Novartis Slovenia country president, in a Jan. 31, 2025 company press release (2). “This shows our commitment to continue bringing new innovative medicines to patients worldwide in therapeutic areas where there are still significant unmet treatment needs. At Novartis in Slovenia, we also ensured that all key Novartis medicines, including the newly launched innovative medicines, have been available to patients in Slovenia.”

Slovenia’s Ljubljana and Mengeš locations support more than half of Novartis priority medicines in various stages of development, production, or services, Novartis noted in its Feb. 5, 2025 press release (1). "Slovenian experts significantly contribute to technological advancement and innovation in the research, development, and production of Novartis innovative medicines, addressing the greatest health challenges in society,” said Steffen Lang, PhD, member of the executive committee, and president, Operations, Novartis, in the press release (1). “Their knowledge, expertise, and achievements have been recognized and valued by Novartis from the very beginning and represent the fundamental reason for continuous further investments in Slovenia. One of these is the new viral vector production facility, which, as the only such Novartis production facility in Europe, has significant strategic value.”

Since entering the Slovenian market, Novartis has invested approximately €3.5 billion (US$3.8 billion) in the country, aimed primarily at research, development, and production capacities as well as sustainable environmental technologies. Investments totaling approximately €500 million (US$541 million) are currently underway at the Ljubljana and Mengeš locations, furthering the company’s growth in Slovenia.

References

1. Novartis. In Slovenia, Novartis Opens Its First Specialized Viral Vector Production Facility in Europe. Press Release. Feb. 5, 2025.
2. Novartis. Novartis in Slovenia Sees a Growth in Workforce and an Enhanced Role in the Global Novartis Network in 2024. Press Release. Jan. 31, 2025.