For Lonza, developing a strong pipeline of senior biotechnologists is essential to ensuring knowledge transfer and long-term workforce sustainability. However, gaining hands-on experience in large-scale plant start-up and stabilisation is a challenge that requires structured exposure to global best practices.

To bridge this gap, they leveraged Workforce Singapore’s (WSG) Overseas Markets Immersion Programme (OMIP). Through this programme, three biotechnologists were sent for a six-month immersion in Visp, Switzerland, where they picked up first-hand experience in plant set-up, operational troubleshooting and process optimisation. These are important knowledge they brought back to enhance Lonza’s biopharmaceutical capabilities in Singapore.

One of the biotechnologists, Lim You Ping, who has nearly six years of experience in Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP), relocated to Visp to assist with the set-up and stabilisation of an expanded mammalian manufacturing plant. His responsibilities included assisting with project start-up, implementing biotechnological methods and overseeing key processes, such as equipment cleaning, media and buffer preparation and autoclaving. As part of his attachment, You Ping worked alongside subject matter experts and vendors to tackle technical challenges, thereby gaining practical experience and insights that strengthened his expertise.

While Lonza Biologics has a structured talent development plan in place, OMIP provided essential support in facilitating international exposure, ensuring employees could gain specialised experience and leadership skills that will strengthen Lonza’s technical capabilities and continued growth.

Ms Annie Lim, Head of Human Resources at Lonza Singapore, highlighted the programme’s impact, "OMIP has given our biotechnologists valuable hands-on experience in plant start-up and technology transfer. By exposing them to diverse global environments, we are preparing them for leadership roles, ensuring they bring back expertise to strengthen our teams in Singapore."