Sophia Sousa 

News Writer 

Rendering of planned SCHOTT Pharma manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina. Photo credit: Business Wire 

On March 18, Governor Roy Cooper announced that SCHOTT Pharma will build a facility in North Carolina. SCHOTT Pharma is an industrialized drug and delivery system for the pharmaceutical industry guaranteeing medicines are safe and accessible to people around the world. SCHOTT produces more than 25,000 injections per minute for patients worldwide. The new facility represents a $371 million investment in Wilson County and 401 new jobs. The facility is expected to start operations in 2027. 

“SCHOTT’s decision to select our state for this important project shows once again that North Carolina is a global leader for biotechnology and life sciences,” said Governor Cooper. “From our expertise in biomanufacturing to the proven education and training systems that are critical for workforce development, global companies recognize North Carolina’s clear advantages as a place to do business.”  

SCHOTT Pharma is part of a German company whose mission is to “enable our customer’s success through unique solutions based on our competencies in glass, specialty materials and superior technologies.” The SCHOTT group has been in business for more than 130 years and has more than 4,700 employees worldwide. SCHOTT has become vital in the global economy. They are in the top 30 pharmaceutical companies, and more than 1,800 customers rely on their products, including syringes, vials, cartridges, and ampoules. 

Christopher Cassidy, President of SCHOTT North America, said, “After conducting a nationwide search for a site that would give a campus-like option, Wilson County was chosen as a primary location to support our growth in the U.S. The local talent pool combined with the proximity to the Research Triangle area, which hosts numerous universities, pharma companies, and research institutions, are ideal factors for the future operation of the company.” 

According to a press release, the company will manufacture refillable polymer syringes at the new site, making it the first facility to do this in the U.S. The typical salary in Wilson County currently is $52,619; with the new job opportunities SCHOTT will bring, the average salary will increase to $57,868. The Wilson site will allow SCHOTT Pharma to triple its contribution in the United States by 2030.  

This latest project will partially be facilitated for 12 years by the Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG), which provides grants to companies creating new jobs for residents and investing in the state. The grants can help with the cost and expansion of facilities. JDIG awards are based on several factors, including “the location of the project, the county tier, the number of net new jobs created in North Carolina, the wages of the jobs, the level of investment made in the state, and the company’s industry sector, and that industry’s alignment with the state’s targeted industry sectors.” Annual grant payments will arrive annually after the North Carolina Departments of Commerce and Revenue each conduct a performance evaluation, assuring that the company has met its goal. 

SCHOTT Pharma is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $1.32 billion, with the potential reimbursement from JDIG being $4,939,000 over the 12-year grant. “North Carolina’s pro-growth and low-tax policies, along with the $30 million investment in the new biologics training facility at Wilson Community College, are paying off for Wilson County and the BioPharma Crescent,” said N.C Senator Buck Newton. “SCHOTT Pharma’s $371 million capital investment and 401 high-wage jobs will strengthen our local economy, and we look forward to a long and successful future for them here in Wilson.” While SCHOTT has not stated additional investment for other markets, the Wilson site will potentially offer future expansion. State officials are optimistic that this new facility will help Wilson County and North Carolina continue to grow and offer new opportunities.