MILLIONS POUR INTO THOUSAND OAKS
A new $600 million investment from pharmaceutical giant Amgen will focus on national R&D enhancement. The company plans to deliver a brand-new research & development facility on the site of its HQ in Thousand Oaks, California, which will enter construction before the end of 2025. While no manufacturing of any kind is expected to take place, the space aims to provide dedicated space for researchers, engineers and scientists to drive innovation across a range of therapeutics. The investment decision was bolstered by the Trump Administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes support for domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing operations. “At Amgen, we’re continuing to invest in the future of American science and innovation,” said Amgen Chairman & CEO Robert A. Bradway. “This new center will empower our scientists with the tools and collaborative environment they need to shape the next era of scientific discovery and advance medicines that improve human health.” Amgen stated the facility will create hundreds of new jobs in the region, but did not provide specifics beyond that.
Photo courtesy of Metlen Energy & Metals
GREECE PLAYS FOR DEFENSE
Last week, global industrial and energy company Metlen announced it would introduce a fourth defense equipment production facility at its Metlen Technologies Hub site in the port city of Volos, Greece, located approximately halfway between Athens and Thessaloniki on the Pagasitikos Gulf. The defense complex is located in the city’s A’ Industrial Area, where the Greek company is currently in the midst of constructing its third manufacturing plant. Construction is set to wrap on the third facility by early 2026, while the new investment is anticipated to be operational by early 2027. The fresh $53 million project will bring an over 100,000-sq.-ft. high-tech defense production plant to the site, which will produce products like Leopard 2A8 battle tanks and create between 200 and 250 new jobs. “We are responding to international market demand, creating hundreds of jobs and bringing cutting-edge know-how to Greece through strategic partnerships that strengthen our country’s role in the European defense,” said Metlen Chairman and CEO Evangelos Mytilineos. “Our commitment at the CMD was for a 5-plant Defense Hub. All units will form an interoperable European-scale Defense Hub, capable of simultaneously executing multiple programs for the production and support of heavy weapon systems.” The new addition will strengthen the defense autonomy of Greece and Europe while fortifying Greece’s domestic supply chain and geopolitical positioning, according to the company.
Rendering courtesy of DayOne
FAVORABLE FOR DATA DEVELOPMENT
A nearly $1.4 billion data center development is slated for the lakeside city of Lahti, located over an hour northeast of Helsinki in southern Finland’s Lakeland region. The new 1-million-sq.-ft. campus will be constructed by Singapore-based data center operator DayOne, which will transform a vacant industrial site in the city’s Kiveriö neighborhood. DayOne expects to break ground in 2025 and anticipates full buildout to be complete by 2027. The future 128-megawatt (MW) campus is expected to create 100 direct jobs in the region. “Finland is an ideal strategic choice for our European growth,” said DayOne Data Centers CEO Jamie Koo. “With its reliable energy infrastructure, renewable energy leadership, highly skilled workforce and naturally favorable climate that significantly reduces energy consumption and operational costs, Finland offers unique advantages that align perfectly with our commitment to sustainable digital infrastructure.” The company plans to partner with the city, the Lahti Region Development LADEC and local educational institutions through a Growth Partnership Agreement, which includes $2.9 million in funding from DayOne to universities in the region.
Reports compiled and written by Alexis Elmore
