Agilent Inaugurates New Biopharma Research Hub at Chungnam National University in South Korea

Agilent Inaugurates New Biopharma Research Hub at Chungnam National University in South Korea

Facility builds local research capabilities through open access to end-to-end R&D platform to accelerate next-generation biopharma innovation

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced the inauguration of a new Open-Biopharma Research Hub for Chungnam National University-Agilent (ORCA), a state-of-the-art facility designed to elevate South Korea's biopharma innovation ecosystem. The hub establishes a collaborative platform connecting academic institutions, research and development organizations and manufacturers, where technologies, expertise and talent converge to accelerate innovation and drive real-world commercial impact.

Strategically located at Chungnam National University's campus in Daejeon, the facility houses Agilent's advanced systems spanning liquid-phases analysis, automation, genomics and cell analysis. As a joint R&D platform, ORCA adopts an Industry-on-Campus open-access model, providing a shared space for researchers across South Korea while supporting hands-on workshops and joint programs between multidisciplinary experts.

The hub will also host on-campus internships, offering training and technical mentorship from Agilent global specialists to strengthen the next-generation of biopharma talent pipeline.

"Chungnam National University is thrilled to partner with Agilent to establish ORCA, a vital milestone that reinforces our campus as a dynamic global innovation hub," said Dr. Kim Jeong-Kyeom, president of Chungnam National University. "By bridging advanced academic research with industry-leading technology, ORCA will serve as a catalyst for breakthrough discoveries in biopharma. We are deeply committed to nurturing next-generation scientific talent and driving collaborative R&D that will elevate South Korea's position in the global biomedical value chain."

Bharat Bhardwaj, vice president of APAC Sales at Agilent, said, "ORCA is a cornerstone of Agilent's customer-centric strategy in Asia-Pacific - a collaborative innovation hub where customers and Agilent experts co-create, experiment and turn ideas into real scientific impact. By combining advanced instrumentation with rapid iteration and knowledge sharing, ORCA reinforces our commitment to partnering with customers to drive breakthrough innovation."

During the inauguration, guests experienced Agilent's end-to-end biopharma workflows, spanning advanced analytical instruments, consumables and integrated software platforms. Core technologies included the 1290 Infinity III Bio LC, 1290 Infinity III Bio 2D-LC, 7100 Capillary Electrophoresis, 6545XT Quadrupole Time of Flight LC/MS and 6495D Triple Quadrupole LC/MS systems, supported by the Bravo and RapidFire 400 automation platforms.

Genomics capabilities featured the Proteo Analyzer and Femto Pulse Analyzer, while cell analysis systems included the BioTek MultiFlo FX, NovoCyte Advanteon Flow Cytometer and BioTek Cytation 9.

Beyond ORCA, Agilent continues to expand its presence in South Korea to support the country's advancement as a leading biomedical R&D and manufacturing hub in the region. The company operates a Center of Excellence in Seoul, along with two sales and services offices, one warehouse and four remote sites, providing nationwide coverage and proximity to customers. These investments underscore Agilent's long-term commitment to advancing innovation as South Korea scales its biomedical value chain.