What You Should Know:
– Export Barbados (BIDC) and the Dubai-headquartered EarlyHealth Group (EHG), a global pharmaceutical services and life sciences company, have signed a Letter of Intent to jointly establish EarlyHealth City Barbados.
– The $200M world-class pharmaceutical and life sciences cluster aims to attract international pharmaceutical partners, drive industrialisation through sustainable contract manufacturing, and expand laboratory and clinical research capacity in Barbados and the wider Caribbean.
World-Class Manufacturing and Infrastructure
Located across 45 acres, EarlyHealth City will be built to meet rigorous international standards:
- Manufacturing Space: Three domes totaling more than 250,000 square feet of contract manufacturing space.
- Production Capabilities: Dedicated to the production of oral solids, semi-solids, liquids, and advanced biologics.
- Global Standards: Will operate under United States and European Union Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.
EHG has already secured Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with several major clients, including Acarpia Farmaceutici Srl, Bioeq AG, Formycon AG, and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (SOBI).
Prime Minister the Hon Mia Amor Mottley, SC, MP, called it a “transformative project” for the island, noting that it will drive job creation and build local scientific and technical talent, positioning it as a “cornerstone of Barbados’ economic future”.
Innovation: AI, Cybersecurity, and Performance Athletics
The project extends beyond traditional manufacturing by integrating cutting-edge technology and wellness amenities:
- AI-Driven Security: A fourth dome will house a Security Operations Centre (SOC), designed by Cyb3r Limited. This center will feature an AI-driven cybersecurity and data-analytics infrastructure intended to safeguard digital assets, manage regulatory data, and provide secure network operations for the life sciences cluster.
- Biomechanical Training: The same dome will house a 30,000 square foot high-performance cricket training facility operated by global sports company DriveFITT. This facility will integrate biomechanics and recovery technology to enhance athletic performance and train new generations of West Indies fast bowlers.
Dr. Dan A. Renout, CEO of EarlyHealth Group, stressed that the City is “more than a manufacturing site. It is a platform for transformation” that will strengthen supply resilience, generate skilled employment, and connect the Caribbean to the global pharmaceutical industry.
A Foundation for Sustainable Growth
Once complete, EarlyHealth City Barbados is expected to host a community of more than 1,000 professionals and feature wellness amenities, restaurants, and collaborative workspaces, forming the Caribbean’s premier life sciences hub.
