Roquette, a French provider of naturally-derived pharmaceutical excipients and plant-based ingredients, recently selected Montgomery County as the location of its next headquarters and innovation center.
The company will invest more than $25 million, starting with an initial investment of $8.7 million, to establish a 23,000-square-foot Research & Development (R&D) Lab and regional headquarters in Lower Gwynedd Township. It is expected to open next summer and will create 30 jobs.
“We’re proud to play a role in the advancement of treatments that help improve, sustain and save lives – and this innovation center is the next step in providing an even greater level of support to customers looking to push the boundaries of R&D and progress new product developments to market quickly,” Paul Smaltz, Roquette vice president of pharmaceutical solutions, said. “As an important hub for innovation in the U.S., Pennsylvania is the ideal location to enable us to collaborate more effectively with our partners and help address important future nutrition and health challenges with next-level, premium solutions.”
The Department of Community and Economic Development submitted a funding proposal for a $150,000 Pennsylvania First grant and encouraged the company to apply for the Research and Development Tax Credit Assignment Program.
Roquette also has a regional headquarters and lab in Geneva, Ill.