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Our R&D centres

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Driving innovation across the globe

Located in leading life-science hubs around the world, our strategic R&D centres bring together world-class scientists and cutting-edge technology to discover and deliver the next generation of potentially life-changing medicines.


16,100

employees working exclusively in R&D

197

R&D projects advancing molecules to market launch

90,000

participants in our clinical trials in 2025

$50 billion

committed investment in the US across R&D and medicines manufacturing by 2030

01

Gaithersburg, US

A vibrant scientific campus – close to Washington, DC – Gaithersburg has the capabilities and capacity to discover, develop, manufacture, and commercialise potentially life-changing medicines all at one site.


6,000

professionals in Gaithersburg

29,000+ students

engaged in Gaithersburg through STEM programming

$4.6 billion in R&D

spend in the US in 2024


Gaithersburg at a glance



Building end-to-end capabilities:

One of the only sites where every single aspect of medicine development is represented – from discovery and manufacturing to commercialisation.



Discovering novel medicines:

Through our in-house technology, we have discovered and engineered nearly 100 protein therapies that have entered the clinic.



Strategic location:

Our R&D hub is minutes away from key cell therapy and biologics manufacturing sites that are making the medicines we discover at scale.



02

Boston, US

Located in the heart of the world’s leading biotech hub, our Boston R&D centre brings together world-class science, data and technology to accelerate the discovery and development of potentially life-changing medicines. With a growing presence across Kendall Square and the Seaport, the site is designed to enable deep collaboration with academic, biotech and healthcare partners across oncology, rare disease and chronic conditions.


1,800+

colleagues anticipated at our new Boston R&D centre in Kendall Square

50+

active clinical trials located across Massachusetts


Boston at a glance



At the centre of global innovation:

Located in the world’s largest biotech hub, with access to leading academic institutions, hospitals and over 1,000 life sciences companies.



Driving next-generation science:

Advancing research across oncology, cell therapy, genomic medicine and chronic diseases, powered by AI and data science.



Built for collaboration:

Purpose-designed spaces in Kendall Square and Seaport bring together scientists, partners and the wider community to accelerate discovery and development.



03

Cambridge, UK

Home to our global corporate headquarters and flagship R&D facility, The Discovery Centre (The DISC), our base in Cambridge, connects us with world-leading academic and industry networks, scientific talent, collaboration opportunities and a vibrant local community.


Unlocking the power of what science can do


2,000+

researchers and scientists supporting R&D at The DISC

200+

science-led partnerships across the Cambridge region

1,000+

student visits to our STEM Inspiration Lab in 2025


Cambridge at a glance



Pushing the boundaries of science

We’re harnessing advanced technologies to help improve disease prediction and deliver innovations that could address unmet medical needs.



Inspiring future talent

We’re delivering STEM and early careers programmes that inspire and enable Cambridge’s next generation of scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs.



Advancing sustainable operations

We’re an integral contributor to AstraZeneca’s Ambition Zero Carbon strategy to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. 



04

Gothenburg, Sweden

The Gothenburg site plays a key role in strengthening the European Union's (EU) life science ecosystem through local collaboration and partnerships, leveraging unparalleled expertise and a strong network.


The heart of life sciences


3,000+

employees with over 40% international talent

60 years

as a site with end-to-end expertise across therapy areas

1.7 billion SEK or $181 million

invested in academic partnerships since 2010.


Gothenburg at a glance



Delivering full life-cycle support & long-standing expertise

We’re providing end-to-end expertise across the entire drug lifecycle, with established leadership in cardiovascular and strong renal, metabolic, respiratory, and immunology capabilities.



Pioneering science with unique infrastructure

We’re accelerating next-generation drug discovery with integration of advanced AI platforms, automation, and a flexible, state-of-the-art lab environment.



Enabling collaborative innovation

We’re connecting pharmaceutical, biotech, digital health, academic and public sector partners in the EU and worldwide, transitioning scientific potential into global impact.



05

Beijing, China

Our newest global strategic R&D centre, Beijing, is accelerating the translation of innovation into potentially life-changing medicines, thanks to a state-of-the art AI and data science laboratory.


1,000+ R&D employees

across Shanghai and Beijing

$15 billion

investment in China through 2030


Beijing at a glance



Collaborating with local partners

We’re working with trial sites, universities, and biotech companies to deepen disease understanding and foster innovation.



Advancing AI and data science

We’re operating a next-generation AI hub to help translate early-stage research into clinical development.



06

Shanghai, China

Located in the Jing’an District, our Shanghai centre is leading and accelerating the delivery of potentially life-changing medicines across AstraZeneca’s main therapy areas – helping address unmet medical needs in China and globally.


1,000+ R&D employees

across Shanghai and Beijing

$2.5 billion

investment in Beijing through 2025

$15 billion

investment in China through 2030


Shanghai at a glance



Advancing cell therapy

Core to AstraZeneca’s global cell therapy strategy, Shanghai underpins future R&D and manufacturing, alongside key ecosystem partnerships.



Collaborating with the innovation community

We’re working closely with innovation and academic networks across China to identify and access cutting-edge scientific discoveries and assets.



Sustainable science

Sustainability is built into how we do science across all our centres – it’s fundamental to our R&D. 

We design and run our labs with patients and the planet in mind, through initiatives like the Green Labs programme and our Ambition Zero Carbon strategy, so our medicines can work to deliver lasting positive impact for people and the planet. 



Join us in a centre near you

If you believe in what sicence can make possible, join us as we push the boundaries of research to deliver potentially life-changing medicines for patients across the globe.


Veeva ID: Z4-81437
Date of preparation: August 2026