An artist's rendering of Merck's new advanced materials development center in Shizuoka, Japan / Courtesy of Merck

Merck announced Friday that it will invest over 70 million euros ($72.56 million) to establish a new advanced materials development center at its Shizuoka site in Japan.

According to the science firm, the new center will feature a 5,500-square-meter facility equipped with cutting-edge clean rooms and advanced laboratories that will enhance the company's existing capabilities in advanced patterning and semiconductor technology. The company said the center plans to begin operations in 2026 and is subject to further expansions.

The new center will be building upon the company's existing patterning center in the region, and will focus on developing new solutions for semiconductor nodes and materials, such as extreme ultraviolet materials and directed self-assembly, to meet the demands of next-generation applications.

This latest investment brings Merck's total commitment to its Shizuoka site to over 120 million euros since 2021, underscoring the company's ongoing commitment to the Japanese market.

"Constructing the new center at our Shizuoka site reflects our strategic commitment to innovation and our confidence in Japan's semiconductor industry as a vital contributor to the global market," Kevin Gorman, senior vice president and head of patterning solutions at Merck, said.