Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is setting a new standard for sustainable drug production with the official launch of AHEAD. The research project was launched in 2022 by Takeda alongside the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and funded by the Climate and Energy Fund, backed by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure as part of the "NEFI – New Energy for Industry" research initiative in Austria. The project was already awarded the Net Zero Industries Award in Austria in 2023, presented at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28, and is part of the Austria Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
The high-temperature heat pump used at Takeda's Vienna site will allow the generation of process steam completely without fossil fuel for the first time. This is a decisive step for this site towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, a commitment Takeda has made for its global operations. The production facility in Vienna is one of Takeda's largest locations worldwide, with around 2,500 employees producing more than 20 different treatments for patients in Austria and over 100 countries worldwide. With AHEAD, Takeda is strengthening its environmental footprint and demonstrating its commitment to innovation in achieving ambitious environmental goals that set new industry standards.
Project Progress
The project began with an extensive planning phase. The existing CO₂-free energy plant at the production site in Vienna at Lange Allee 24 has been expanded by AHEAD. Structural preparatory work began in May 2024, with the construction phase starting in the summer of 2024. The high-temperature heat pump was successfully put into trial operation in the summer of 2025.
The plant will undergo 4,000 hours of scientific monitoring by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology to evaluate the performance and transferability of the technology to other locations and industries. A novel approach was developed to assess the decarbonization potential, combining process requirements, anticipated process changes, learning curves for high-temperature heat pumps, and statistical data. This allows for the continuous optimization of the plant's operating strategy.
Technological Innovation
The core of AHEAD is the steam-generating heat pump from SPH Sustainable Process Heat GmbH, which operates with 100% natural refrigerants and, in combination with steam compressors, can achieve process temperatures of over 200 °C—exceeding the 184 °C at 11 bar(a) required for pharmaceutical production. A key feature of AHEAD is the utilization of existing refrigeration systems and their seasonally available waste heat. Consequently, the plant has the potential to generate CO₂-free steam for over seven months annually, resulting in potential savings of up to 1,600 tons of CO₂, representing an approximately 80% reduction for the Vienna site at Lange Allee 24.
Sustainability as a Shared Responsibility
Thomas Wozniewski, Global Manufacturing & Supply Officer, stated: "We believe that a healthy planet is a prerequisite for healthy living. Therefore, we have set ambitious environmental targets for more sustainable pharmaceutical production, which includes net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across our value chain by 2040. To achieve these goals, we constantly evaluate and implement new technologies. Environmental protection is a collective responsibility, and AHEAD exemplifies how collaboration between industry and research institutes can drive success and set trends beyond one's own sector."
Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Federal Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism: "Austria needs an economic upswing to secure jobs, prosperity, and our social welfare system. We can only achieve this if we focus on our strengths: diligence, inventiveness, and internationalism. AHEAD demonstrates how innovation arises from these strengths—creating value and strengthening our location’s visibility on the international stage. My congratulations go to everyone who contributed to this flagship project."
Volker Schaffler, Head of the Energy and Environmental Technologies, who attended the official commissioning of AHEAD on behalf of Federal Minister for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure Peter Hanke: "The AHEAD research project, which is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund, marks an important milestone for the energy transition in industrial heat supply in Austria. This concept can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80% and significantly contribute to replacing fossil fuel in industrial processes. This opens new perspectives for key industries like paper, chemicals, petrochemicals, and food. AHEAD showcases the innovative spirit and technological competence of Austrian manufacturing companies in partnership with national research groups."
Barbara Novak, City Councilor for Economic Affairs, who participated on behalf of Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig, is pleased about the opening: “Vienna is proud that such a forward-looking project as AHEAD has been realized. It makes a significant contribution to ambitiously implementing climate goals at the industrial level and strengthens Vienna’s position as a pioneer for sustainable high-tech innovations. It underscores Vienna’s role as an international pioneer in the life sciences sector and demonstrates how we shape sustainable progress with courage, innovative strength, and partnership. With projects like AHEAD, we make a clear commitment: sustainability and economic strength are not opposites but can go hand in hand. This is the future we stand for in Vienna – innovative, responsible, and globally connected.”
Andreas Kugi, Scientific Director of AIT: “Heat pumps will be a central element of future energy infrastructure – including in industry. With AHEAD, we are setting an important milestone by developing a steam-generating heat pump that operates at 11 bar and 184 °C using only natural refrigerants. Industrial high-temperature heat pumps have enormous potential, as 39 percent of the process heat demand in European industry is below 200 °C. Thanks to the NEFI innovation network, we as research partners can test key technologies like this in close collaboration with companies like Takeda, thereby reducing both technical and economic risks on the path to energy-efficient industrial processes. The successful implementation of projects like AHEAD shows how crucial the connection between industry and research, as well as the use of digital methods, is for competitive and sustainable production in the future.”
Bernd Vogl, Managing Director of the Climate and Energy Fund: “Innovative technologies made in Austria are a key to mitigate climate change. They show that an energy supply based on renewable energies is feasible, economically sensible, and ecologically beneficial – and at the same time strengthen Austria’s business location and jobs. Takeda has impressively demonstrated this with the AHEAD project. With our RTI initiative for the transformation of industry, we are now taking the next step: we are looking for projects that enable CO2-neutral production and make Austria permanently resilient and future-proof.”
From Vienna for the World
At the Austria Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, AHEAD will be featured as an example of forward-looking technologies, underscoring the importance of long-term partnerships and demonstrating how shared knowledge can help address global climate and energy challenges. AHEAD sends a strong signal for the innovative capacity of Austrian industrial projects on a global scale.
With the completion of the commissioning, AHEAD will enter standard operation. It serves as a pilot project for potential global scaling: the data obtained during monitoring will be applied not only to the Vienna site but also to other Takeda production sites, thus serving as a model for CO₂-free process heat in the pharmaceutical industry and beyond.
About Takeda
Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. We serve patients in approximately 80 countries and are driven by our purpose grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries. For more information, visit www.takeda.com.
About AIT
Research & Development is the central driver of innovation for industry, business and society, secures jobs and prosperity and thus strengthens Austria as a business location. Applied research also provides solutions to the major challenges of our time. The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is Austria's largest research and technology organization, working on the central infrastructure topics of the future with more than 1,500 employees. AIT focuses on the two interlinked research priorities "Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructures", especially in the areas of energy, transport and health, and the "Digital Transformation of the Economy and Society", working closely with industry and public institutions. https://www.ait.ac.at/
About NEFI – New Energy for Industry
The AHEAD research project is part of the innovation network NEFI – New Energy for Industry, which promotes the decarbonization of the industrial energy system with key technologies 'made in Austria' in the showcase region of energy. The NEFI Innovation Network has been formed around a consortium of AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Montanuniversitity Leoben, OÖ Energiesparverband and the Upper Austrian location agency Business Upper Austria and bundles the diverse experience in the field of energy research and implementation of projects. www.nefi.at
Media contacts:
- Takeda
Astrid Kindler, MA
Head of Austria Communications
Global Manufacturing & Supply and Global Quality
Standorte Wien, Linz, Orth an der Donau
Phone: +43 664 8812 0691
Email: astrid.kindler(at)takeda.com
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
Mag. Margit Özelt
Marketing and Communications
Center for Energy und NEFI-New Energy for Industry
Phone: +43 664 88390660
Email: margit.oezelt(at)ait.ac.at
- Journalist Services / Agency:
Public Health PR
Mag. Michael Leitner, MAS
Phone: 01 60 20 530/91
Email: michael.leitner(at)publichealth.at