Partnering for Impact: How Catalent and UK Are Advancing Talent, Innovation and Economic Growth in Kentucky

Catalent, a global leader in contract development and manufacturing, plays a vital role in Kentucky’s economy and the healthcare industry worldwide. With its facility in Winchester, Catalent specializes in helping pharmaceutical and biotech companies bring life-changing medicines to patients faster and more efficiently. Now, through the University of Kentucky’s OneUK initiative, Catalent is deepening its engagement with UK to strengthen the state’s workforce, advance innovation and create lasting economic impact.

Catalent’s Winchester facility is one of the company’s largest operations, employing hundreds of Kentuckians in high-skill roles that range from manufacturing and quality assurance to engineering and operations management. By offering well-paying jobs and training opportunities, the company has become an anchor in Clark County and a major contributor to the state’s life sciences and advanced manufacturing sectors. For students and graduates, Catalent represents a clear pathway to meaningful, career-defining opportunities in a rapidly growing industry.

“At Catalent, we believe that strong partnerships are the foundation of innovation and growth,” Andi Kaplan, Catalent director of human resources, said. “Our collaboration with the University of Kentucky through the OneUK program is a great example of how industry and academia can come together to build a robust talent pipeline and strengthen our communities. We’re proud to be able to invest in Kentucky’s future and to help shape the next generation of manufacturing and life sciences leaders.

Through OneUK, UK and Catalent are aligning their expertise to meet the state’s most pressing workforce and innovation needs. Together, the two organizations are creating a framework for collaboration that not only supports Catalent’s business objectives but also advances Kentucky’s economy and provides students with valuable professional experience.

As part of this partnership, UK and Catalent have identified shared goals in three critical areas: talent, innovation and support:

• Talent: Build a sustainable pipeline for talent growth at Catalent Winchester, ensuring that the company can remain a competitive leader in contract development and manufacturing while also preparing UK students for high-demand careers.
• Innovation: Integrate artificial intelligence and lean process engineering into business operations to enhance efficiency and deliver greater value to customers. These efforts are designed to foster a culture of innovation, leveraging UK’s research strengths and Catalent’s industry expertise to solve real-world challenges and bring forward new solutions.
• Support: Strengthen the local economy by creating new opportunities for students and businesses and establishing a mutually beneficial relationship between the university and Catalent. 

“We’re thrilled to partner with Catalent through OneUK to build on our shared commitment to Kentucky’s workforce and innovation ecosystem. Catalent’s global leadership in life sciences and its strong presence in Winchester make this collaboration especially exciting,” Tori Summey, University of Kentucky associate director of employer engagement, said. “Together, we’re establishing pathways for student and alumni success through intentional talent development and recruitment efforts, while working to advance innovation and economic growth across the Commonwealth."

As Catalent looks to the future, its partnership with UK stands as a model of what’s possible when higher education and industry come together with a shared purpose. Through OneUK, the two organizations are not only building talent and advancing innovation but also shaping a stronger, more competitive Kentucky.

Learn more about how the University of Kentucky is working with partners like Catalent to drive workforce, innovation and economic growth across the state here.