When a global biopharmaceutical company makes a $2 billion investment in a community, it sends a powerful message about that community’s ability to support what comes next.
For Gwinnett County, UCB’s decision to establish its first U.S. pharmaceutical biologics manufacturing operation at Rowen is a demonstration of an ecosystem that has been years in the making — one that connects education, talent, research, infrastructure and industry to create an environment where life sciences companies can grow.
And, that investment is earning even more statewide recognition.
UCB’s $2 billion investment at Rowen has been named a 2026 Georgia Life Sciences Deal of the Year, recognizing one of the most significant economic development projects in Georgia’s growing life sciences sector.
The Golden Helix award was presented August 25 during the Georgia Life Sciences Summit & Awards Ceremony at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. The annual Golden Helix Awards celebrate the individuals, organizations, partnerships and investments advancing innovation, patient care and economic growth across Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem.
“Being recognized as a Georgia Life Sciences ‘Deal of the Year’ is a tremendous honor and reflects the significance of this investment for UCB, Gwinnett County, and the broader life sciences community,” said Patty Fritz, Head of U.S. Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, UCB. “As we build our biomanufacturing campus at Rowen, we appreciate the strong partnerships that have helped bring this vision to life; and we are excited to create a facility that will advance innovation and benefit patients for generations to come.”
A $2 Billion Vote of Confidence
Announced in March, UCB’s investment will establish a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at Rowen, Gwinnett’s nearly 2,000-acre knowledge community along Georgia Highway 316. This facility will be UCB’s first U.S. manufacturing site.
The project is expected to create 330 new jobs over the next several years and generate approximately $5 billion in total economic impact.
For UCB, the investment represents a major expansion of a relationship with Georgia that already spans more than three decades. Headquartered in Belgium, the global biopharmaceutical company maintains its North American headquarters in Smyrna, Georgia, supporting more than 400 jobs across areas including neurology and immunology.
The Rowen project will significantly expand that footprint while strengthening UCB’s biologics manufacturing capabilities in the United States.
“When we met with UCB leadership earlier this year in Belgium, we discussed how the Peach State would be the right partner for their visionary plans in the U.S. that will benefit both patients and hardworking Georgians,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “UCB’s announcement is also a significant milestone for our life sciences industry, representing one of the largest investments in state history and establishing both the Rowen facility and Georgia as a true hub of innovation in this field.”
Partnership Makes the Difference
Projects of this scale do not happen through the work of one organization. UCB’s selection of Rowen followed a collaborative economic development effort involving Partnership Gwinnett, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Gwinnett County Government, the Rowen Foundation, Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia Quick Start through Gwinnett Technical College and Georgia Power.
That collaboration reflects another critical component of Gwinnett’s value proposition: the ability to bring partners together around a company’s needs.
“To see UCB and Rowen honored as a Georgia Life Sciences Deal of the Year is an incredible recognition of a project that will have a lasting impact on our community,” said Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. “This award reflects the vision behind Rowen, the significance of UCB’s investment and the strength of the partnerships that brought the two together.”
For Partnership Gwinnett, the project also represents the value of cultivating relationships well beyond county — and national — borders. Earlier this year, a Partnership Gwinnett delegation traveled to Brussels, Belgium, visiting UCB’s global headquarters and meeting with company leadership to deepen the relationship and reinforce Gwinnett’s commitment to the company’s continued growth.
“UCB’s decision to choose Rowen was a defining moment not only for Gwinnett, but for Georgia’s position in the global life sciences industry,” said Kevin Carmichael, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for Partnership Gwinnett. “This recognition reinforces what made the project possible: a long-term vision for Rowen, a highly skilled workforce and strong collaboration among our local, regional and state partners. We are proud to have played a role in bringing this transformational investment to Gwinnett and we look forward to supporting UCB’s continued growth here.”
Building the Talent Pipeline from the Classroom Up
For companies making long-term investments, facilities and infrastructure are only part of the equation. They also need confidence that the people required to operate, innovate and grow will be there.
That is one of Gwinnett’s greatest advantages.
With one of Georgia’s largest school systems and multiple higher education institutions located within the county, Gwinnett is developing a pipeline that allows students to begin exploring STEM, healthcare and biotechnology careers early and continue building those skills locally.
Gwinnett County Public Schools serves more than 180,000 students, creating an enormous pool of future talent. Students can begin exploring areas such as biotechnology and healthcare as early as middle school and continue into high school pathways connected to biotechnology, allied health and medicine, public health and healthcare science.
The Community Award at the Golden Helix Awards from Georgia Life Sciences presented to Jessica King Holden of the Gwinnett Regional Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair offers another example of how that pipeline is being strengthened.
Through the annual fair, Gwinnett students have opportunities to investigate real-world challenges, conduct original research and present their ideas to professionals in science, engineering and technology. That early exposure does more than inspire curiosity—it helps students see themselves as future researchers, innovators and life sciences professionals.
Together, UCB’s Deal of the Year honor and Holden’s Community Award highlight both ends of Gwinnett’s growing life sciences ecosystem: the transformational investments creating future opportunities and the community leaders preparing young people to pursue them.
And those pathways do not have to end at graduation.
Students can continue their education at Gwinnett Technical College, which offers more than 160 programs, including Bioscience Technology and a broad range of health sciences programs. The college reported 15,689 students enrolled during the 2025 academic year, providing employers with access to a growing source of technical and specialized talent.
Then just a little further down the road at Georgia Gwinnett College, more than 12,700 students are pursuing higher education within the county. Its biology program alone serves nearly 1,000 students and provides preparation for careers and advanced study in areas including research, medicine and pharmacology.
Together, these institutions create a powerful proposition: students can move from K-12 education to specialized training or a college degree and ultimately into a high-quality life sciences career without ever leaving Gwinnett County.
For a global company investing for decades rather than years, that pipeline matters.
Where Talent, Research and Industry Come Together
UCB is also the first major private investment at Rowen — an important milestone for a project designed specifically around the convergence of research, education and industry.
Located along the rapidly developing Georgia 316 corridor, Rowen was envisioned as a knowledge community where companies and institutions working in areas such as life sciences, agriculture and technology can collaborate, innovate and access the talent required for the industries of the future.
UCB’s selection of Rowen puts that vision into action.
“UCB’s selection of Rowen was a milestone in realizing the vision for this knowledge community, and this award is an exciting recognition of what that partnership represents,” said Sachin Shailendra, Rowen Board Chair and Interim Chief Executive Officer. “Rowen was created to bring together industry, research, talent and innovation in ways that can address some of the world’s greatest challenges. Having a global life sciences leader like UCB make this transformational investment here demonstrates the potential of that vision and sets the stage for what is still to come.”
The location also places UCB along the Georgia 316 corridor connecting Gwinnett to some of Georgia’s leading research and educational assets, creating additional opportunities for collaboration, research and future talent development on a regional scale. Additionally, the near future allows for UCB to share their company’s experiences, cutting-edge technologies, and highly trained workforce with the life sciences ecosystem of Georgia. This level of leadership can shape generations of opportunities.
The Next Generation of Life Sciences Starts Here
The significance of UCB’s investment is measured in billions of dollars, hundreds of jobs and the arrival of Rowen’s first major private investment.
Its longer-term impact could be even greater.
A seventh-grade student exploring biotechnology in a Gwinnett classroom today can continue into advanced healthcare or biotechnology coursework in high school, earn a bioscience credential or degree at a Gwinnett institution and ultimately pursue a career with a global company operating right here in the community.
That is what a workforce pipeline looks like when education and economic development move together.
And it is what makes Gwinnett increasingly competitive for an industry in which talent, innovation and long-term partnerships matter.
UCB’s 2026 Georgia Life Sciences Deal of the Year recognition celebrates an extraordinary investment. It also provides a glimpse of something bigger: Gwinnett County is building the people, places and partnerships that can power the next generation of life sciences growth.
Gwinnett is building the talent, places and partnerships to power the next generation of life sciences.
