[San Diego (U.S.) = E-Daily Reporter SONG YOUNG-DOO ] The Torrey Pines area in San Diego, U.S. Nestled among low-rise buildings lining the Pacific Ocean and densely packed with biotech companies and contract research organizations (CROs), this area is considered one of the United States’ leading biotech clusters, alongside Boston and San Francisco. During the “2026 BIO International Convention (BIO International Convention·BIO USA),” I visited Eli Lilly’s “Lilly Gateway Labs (LGL)” San Diego site, located right in the heart of this cluster.

The reason for the visit was clear: SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS(207940)and Eli Lilly are set to jointly open a “Gateway Labs” facility based on the same model in Songdo, Incheon, in about a year. The open innovation model proven in San Diego is now heading to Songdo. In a sense, today in San Diego is tomorrow in Songdo. This is significant not merely as a project to create a research space, but as the beginning of a blueprint to grow Korea’s biotech ecosystem by combining the new drug development capabilities of a global big pharma company with SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS’ world-class manufacturing competitiveness.

“The focus is on scientific leadership, not just the space”

Upon entering the building, Verena Stocker, Associate Vice President and Regional Head of Lilly Gateway Labs Europe, greeted the press corps.

Stocker introduced Gateway Labs as a central pillar of Lilly’s External Innovation strategy. External Innovation consists of two main pillars: Corporate Business Development (BD), which identifies biotech companies that have already entered the clinical phase, and “Catalyze 360,” a program created to collaborate with companies in earlier stages.

“A few years ago, we realized we were missing out on opportunities to engage with preclinical-stage companies. That’s why we created Gateway Labs,” he said. “Our philosophy is that access to Lilly’s scientific leadership and expertise is just as valuable as the excellent space we provide.” He explained that the core of this model is not simply a rental-based incubator, but rather sharing the drug discovery and development capabilities that Lilly has accumulated over 150 years with external biotech companies.

A 120,000-square-meter site… a biotech cluster densely populated with CROs

Site Head Kathleen led the tour of the facility. The San Diego site, which opened just over a year ago, spans 120,000 square feet (approximately 11,150 square meters) and consists of 18 modules. It was developed in partnership with real estate developer Alexandria Real Estate, and the building right next door is occupied by the global CRO Charles River Labs. Tenant companies can access nearby CRO services at discounted rates.

Currently, 10 biotech companies are housed there, and the facility can accommodate up to 15 companies. Over the past six years, more than 400 companies have passed through Gateway Labs. These companies have collaborated with Lilly scientists more than 200 times, secured over $3 billion in investment, and led to the development of more than 150 new drugs and platforms.

LGL, which began in San Francisco, has expanded to Boston, Philadelphia, and San Diego, and last year established its first non-U.S. locations in Beijing and Shanghai. A Munich location is also set to open soon. The next destination is Songdo, South Korea.

South Korea: “High-Quality Research Papers, Rapidly Growing Preclinical Biotech Sector, and Government Support Are Key Strengths”

Stocker, the head of the initiative, cited the high caliber of scientific publications, the rapidly growing preclinical biotech sector, and government support for the life sciences industry as reasons for choosing South Korea. The Songdo site will be developed on approximately 12,000 square meters within the SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS campus in Incheon, a size comparable to the San Diego facility. Both sides aim to attract about 30 companies to the site.

Stocker explained, “Scientific potential and top-tier talent are the key criteria,” adding, “We are looking for early- to mid-stage biotech companies with excellent scientific achievements and collaborative capabilities.”

Lee Sang-myung, Executive Vice President of SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS, described the operational model of the Songdo “Lilly Gateway Labs” project, saying, “Lilly and SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS will jointly select tenant companies and make joint decisions on facility operations, educational programs, and evaluations.” He added, “The selection criteria will also strictly follow the standards that Lilly applies globally.”

Companies competing in the same indication or modality will not be accepted as tenants together. The tenancy period is two years initially, with the option to extend for up to two additional years. The Songdo model also stands out in terms of its investment structure. Not only Lilly Ventures but also Samsung may consider investment and business collaboration opportunities.

He explained that the goal of the Songdo project is to “build a biotech ecosystem.” Executive Director Lee emphasized, “Not all tenants will receive investment, but if a company is outstanding, both Lilly and Samsung may consider investment and collaboration,” adding, “Samsung has long believed in the need to systematically support the biotech ecosystem. This program provides both the network and educational strategies necessary for biotech companies to grow.”

Songdo’s “Lilly Gateway Labs”… Expected to Become an Asian Bio Hub

Another pillar of the Songdo model is AI. TuneLab is a platform that provides external companies with new drug development data and AI models built by Lilly with an investment of over $1 billion. The core of the platform is its federated learning structure. Participating companies can utilize Lilly’s validated AI models without transferring their source data externally.

Current participants include AriBio, First Biotherapeutics, and Pharos iBio Co., Ltd.(388870). This is significant because it goes beyond mere AI utilization; it allows early-stage biotech companies to leverage data and algorithms on par with global big pharma, thereby increasing the likelihood of success for their drug candidates.

While touring the “Lilly Gateway Labs” facility in San Diego, it became clear that the essence of this space is not that of an incubator that simply rents out laboratories or offices. Lilly has established a structure in which it selects promising early-stage biotech companies, connects them with its own scientists, AI platform, and investment network, and then reintegrates the matured companies back into the global new drug development ecosystem.

In Songdo, another key player—SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS—is added to this framework. While Lilly handles drug discovery, scientific validation, and AI-based R&D, SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS bridges development and production with its world-class CDMO capabilities. For early-stage biotech companies, this creates an environment where the entire process—from candidate drug discovery to manufacturing and business development—unfolds within a single ecosystem.

In particular, the Songdo model stands out because it allows not only Lilly Ventures but also Samsung to explore investment and business collaboration opportunities with tenant companies. A structure in which a global big pharma and the world’s largest CDMO simultaneously serve as potential strategic partners is a model rarely found in existing domestic accelerator programs. Tenants at Songdo Labs can stay for two years after moving in, with the option to extend for up to two additional years. This means a total residency period of four years is possible.

Until now, domestic biotech companies had to attend Bio USA every year to seek opportunities for joint research or technology exports with global pharmaceutical companies, arranging meetings in person to present their technologies. However, the Songdo Open Innovation Hub opens up a pathway for companies to have constant access to Lilly’s scientists and AI platforms, as well as SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS’ manufacturing capabilities, all while remaining in Korea. Being accepted into the program itself could serve as a form of validation, recognizing the companies’ scientific and commercial potential at a global level.

Of course, since only about 30 companies can be accommodated, competition is expected to be fierce. Nor does admission to this hub guarantee technology exports or investment. Ultimately, it is up to the companies themselves to demonstrate their differentiated technologies and clinical data. Industry attention is focused on whether this Open Innovation Hub, jointly established by the two companies in Songdo, will emerge as a new gateway accelerating the global expansion of domestic biotech firms and establish itself as a core platform for Asia’s bio hub.