West Point, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced the Commonwealth has secured a $2.9 billion investment from Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, to expand its operations in Montgomery County by the end of 2030. The Commonwealth is investing $5 million in the company’s expansion, which will support the manufacturing of lifesaving products and medicine discovery.
As part of the $2.9 billion commitment, Merck is investing $550 million in ADVANCE, a state-of-the-art robotics and AI-enabled drug research and development (R&D) facility at its West Point Campus, and the nearby Springhouse Innovation Park (SHIP) R&D facility, which will help the company produce life-saving medicines.
“My Administration has made life sciences a key part of our economic development strategy here in Pennsylvania — and Merck’s major investment in Montgomery County is another major win for the Commonwealth,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “We are proud to partner with Merck as they expand their operations in Montgomery County, advance cutting-edge research and manufacturing, and create new opportunities for thousands of Pennsylvanians. The life sciences industry is booming in Pennsylvania and I am committed to winning more investments like this and making sure our Commonwealth remains a national leader in innovation, medicine, and manufacturing.”
Merck received a funding proposal from DCED for a $5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant for the first West Point projects.
Governor Shapiro and DCED Secretary Siger were at Merck’s West Point campus today to help cut the ribbon on the ADVANCE facility. West Point plays a critical role in global public health, manufacturing over 200 million doses of vaccines a year.
“Merck’s continued investment in Montgomery County is a testament to Pennsylvania’s strength as a global hub for life sciences, innovation, and advanced manufacturing,” said Secretary Siger. “The Commonwealth’s $5 million RACP investment is helping support projects that will strengthen Merck’s operations, advance the development and manufacturing of critical medicines and vaccines, and reinforce our competitive edge in an industry that is extremely important in Pennsylvania.”
“The ADVANCE facility represents the future of clinical development at Merck and underscores our continued commitment to addressing the needs of the patients we serve,” said Rob Davis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Merck. “This builds on our longstanding presence in Pennsylvania where we’re proud to invest in the people, communities and scientific capabilities that will help drive the next generation of medicines.”
Merck is a leading global, research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. For over 130 years, the company has used advanced science to discover, develop, and deliver important medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products. Driven by its purpose of using leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world, Merck remains at the forefront of research spanning a growing number of therapeutic areas.
Investing in Pennsylvania’s Life Sciences Industry and Innovation Economy
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has been laser-focused on supporting Pennsylvania’s biotech ecosystem. Life sciences companies like Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, B. Braun, and GSK have announced major expansions in Pennsylvania under the Governor’s leadership, bringing new jobs and investments in research and development into the Commonwealth.
As a national powerhouse, Pennsylvania’s life sciences industry is home to approximately 3,900 companies, employs more than 110,000 Pennsylvanians, and directly contributes $73 billion to the economy. The work by these researchers and companies over the last five years has secured more than 20,000 new life sciences patents — the sixth-highest total in the country.
In the 2026-27 budget, Governor Shapiro also secured $125 million to create Pennsylvania’s Innovate in PA 2.0 program to foster promising ideas and help growing companies thrive and succeed in the Commonwealth by:
Strengthening Support for Clinical Trials – the Clinical Trial & Research Network Grant Program will invest in the Commonwealth’s clinical trial and research infrastructure to help reduce barriers and streamline these efforts.
Investing in the Talent Companies Need – the Life Sciences Paths Grant Program will invest in talent pathways that address critical workforce gaps and help keep skilled workers in the Commonwealth and giving high-potential biotech and life sciences companies another reason to start, grow, and stay here.
Building Economic Resilience – the Life Sciences Challenge Grant Program will support high-impact, high-potential economic development projects to advance collaboration between or-profit, non-profit, academic, and municipal partners to strengthen the life sciences ecosystem in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania’s Business Climate and Growing Economy Is Earning National Recognition
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has made Pennsylvania more competitive — attracting over $43 billion in private-sector investment while creating nearly 29,000 good-paying jobs across the Commonwealth and earning national recognition.
- Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast with a growing economy, based on analysis done by Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi.
- The Commonwealth was recently ranked the top state for business in the Northeast by CNBC in its Top States for Business in America rankings ― the highest Pennsylvania has been ranked in 15 years.
- Last year, according to a new analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Commonwealth ranked third in the nation for job growth.
- Area Development ranked Pennsylvania among the top 20 “Best States for Business” — the only Northeastern state to make the list — and placed the Commonwealth in the top 10 for “Site Readiness Programs."
- Site Selection Magazine named Pennsylvania one of the top business climates in the nation
- Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Pennsylvania ranks among the top states in the nation for five-year new business survival.
Learn more about the Shapiro Administration’s efforts to support Pennsylvania’s workers and businesses and spur the economy to build a stronger, more competitive economy for all Pennsylvanians.
Read more about Governor Shapiro’s 2026-27 budget, view the Governor’s remarks as prepared here, or watch the Governor’s delivered remarks here.