BioProcess International covers 2026 FOYA Category Winners
The International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) recently announced the 2026 Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) category winners, recognizing a diverse group of global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for their achievements in innovation, operational excellence, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. The announcement was made during the 2026 ISPE Europe Annual Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the overall FOYA winner scheduled to be revealed at the 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo in Washington, D.C., USA later this year.
FOYA, one of the most respected award programs in the pharmaceutical engineering community, celebrates facilities that push the boundaries of what is possible in regulated biomanufacturing. The awards highlight projects that demonstrate exceptional engineering, forward thinking design, and meaningful contributions to patient outcomes. ISPE’s leadership emphasizes that FOYA winners set new benchmarks for the industry, showcasing how modern pharmaceutical manufacturing is evolving to meet increasingly complex global challenges.
Amongst the 2026 Category Winners, many projects stand out. AstraZeneca received recognition for its commercial cell therapy facility in Rockville, Maryland. The site is designed to produce CAR T therapies for as many as 4,000 cancer patients annually. ISPE highlighted AstraZeneca’s dual focus on addressing unmet medical needs and implementing environmentally sustainable operations—an increasingly important criterion in FOYA evaluations.
FUJIFILM Biotechnologies earned an honorable mention for its Galaxy Project, a facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The project received nominations across multiple categories, including innovation, operations, Pharma 4.0™, and social impact.
Takeda continued its strong track record in sustainability, winning for its advanced heat pump demonstrator (AHEAD) project. This initiative uses renewable energy to reduce CO₂ emissions, reinforcing Takeda’s commitment to environmentally responsible manufacturing. The company previously won a FOYA Social Impact Award in 2023, and ISPE’s recognition this year underscores Takeda’s ongoing leadership in sustainable facility design.
Bayer AG distinguished itself as the only company to win in two categories—Operations and Pharma 4.0—for its SOLIDA 1 tablet production facility. The project exemplifies cutting edge digital integration and operational efficiency, aligning with FOYA’s emphasis on agility and advanced manufacturing technologies.
Other FOYA Category Winners include Hepalink Pharmaceutical Group, Sanofi, Eli Lilly, BSP Pharmaceuticals SpA, and Chugai Pharma Manufacturing, each recognized for excellence in areas ranging from operational performance to digital transformation.
ISPE plays a central role in shaping global pharmaceutical engineering standards, and the FOYA program is one of its most influential initiatives. FOYA winners often represent the forefront of facility design, automation, sustainability, and patient centric manufacturing. These projects serve as case studies for the entire industry, offering insights into best practices and emerging trends.
Parag Sane, FOYA judging chair and AVP of Global Capital Projects at Amgen, emphasized that the 2026 winners reflect “bold thinking, disciplined execution, and a strong commitment to agility, sustainability, and patient focused outcomes.” He continued, “Together, they set new benchmarks for excellence in regulated manufacturing and exemplify the purpose of the FOYA program − to recognize engineering achievements that advance our industry and benefit patients worldwide.”
The 2026 FOYA Category Winners collectively demonstrate how pharmaceutical manufacturing continues to evolve through innovation, digital transformation, and sustainability. Through ISPE’s leadership and the visibility provided by FOYA, these projects help guide the future direction of global biopharmaceutical facility design and operations.
View the full list of 2026 FOYA Category Winners
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Bioprocess International writes about the development, scaling up, and production of biotherapeutics and biodiagnostics for the global biopharmaceutical community. Articles focus on the business, politics, ethics, applications, products, and services related to advancing biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and biodiagnostics, from development to manufacturing.