Sanofi Doubles Budapest Service Center Footprint
French pharmaceutical company Sanofi has announced the expansion of its Budapest service center, a move set to create 500 new high-value-added jobs. The facility, located in a dynamic business district of the Hungarian capital, has doubled its size, growing by 8,000 square meters to a total of 15,000 square meters. This expansion brings the total number of employees at the center to 2,200, up from approximately 1,700 professionals previously. The announcement was made by Péter Szijjártó, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on October 10, 2025, during a handover ceremony.
Enhanced Capabilities and Strategic Importance
The expanded Sanofi Budapest Hub will significantly broaden its scope of operations. While already providing services in finance, customer service, and human resources management, the center will now play a crucial role in areas such as clinical trials, process automation, and data analysis. This strategic enhancement positions the Budapest center as a 'Centre of Excellence' or 'competence centre' within Sanofi's global network, focusing on activities with specifically high added value. The hub supports Sanofi's global operations in 14 languages, underscoring its international significance. The new jobs are expected to attract highly qualified individuals, with statistics indicating that 80% of employees in such centers hold higher education degrees, and 75-85% are Hungarian citizens.
Hungary's Growing Role in High-Value Services
Minister Szijjártó emphasized that the expansion strengthens Hungary's role in high value-added services. He highlighted the government's commitment to encouraging investments that create jobs requiring high qualifications, noting that service centers are key to this objective. Over the past decade, the Hungarian government has supported 116 shared service center (SSC) projects with approximately HUF 20 billion (EUR 51 million) in subsidies, leading to the creation of more than 22,000 new jobs. Sanofi, as the successor to the historic Chinoin pharmaceutical company founded in 1910, has a long-standing presence in Hungary, employing over 2,200 people across its sites in Budapest, Veresegyház, and Csanyikvölgy. The company is recognized as one of the top pharmaceutical entities in Hungary, ranking as the 16th largest exporter and 21st largest company by revenue in the national economy.
5 Comments
Bermudez
It's encouraging to see Sanofi expanding its footprint and bringing more advanced operations like clinical trials to Budapest. However, the government's significant subsidies raise questions about whether the public return on investment truly justifies the cost.
Bella Ciao
The article highlights Hungary's growing role in high-value services, which is a commendable development for the country's international standing. Yet, relying heavily on foreign direct investment from a few large corporations can make the economy vulnerable to global shifts.
Muchacha
Fantastic to see Sanofi investing more in Hungary. A true win-win!
Ongania
"High-value jobs" or just more outsourced admin work? Skeptical.
Fuerza
This expansion undoubtedly strengthens the job market for professionals with higher education, which is a net positive for many families. However, the article doesn't detail the impact on local wage structures or the competition for talent, which could drive up costs for smaller domestic businesses.