Journalist

Kang So Young
  • BIO KOREA 2026 to Bring Together 270 Companies for Global Deals and Investment
    BIO KOREA 2026 to Bring Together 270 Companies for Global Deals and Investment South Korea’s largest biohealth industry convention, BIO KOREA 2026, is set to open in eight days, with organizers and participants expecting expanded cooperation and investment opportunities among global companies. Co-hosted by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute and North Chungcheong Province, the event will run April 28-30 at COEX in Seoul. Now in its 21st year, BIO KOREA has moved beyond a trade show to position itself as a business platform for the global biotech industry. Organizers said about 270 companies from more than 20 countries will take part, showcasing technologies across biotech, digital health care, regenerative medicine and medical devices. South Korean participants include ST Pharm, Yuhan Corp. and GC Cell. Overseas participants include Johnson & Johnson, Amgen and Lonza, drawing attention for potential technology partnerships and investment links. AI-driven drug development companies are also expected in large numbers. Insilico Medicine and Arontier plan to present AI drug design, data analysis and synthetic biology platforms, organizers said. The centerpiece of the event is its “business partnering” program. Organizers said they have roughly doubled the size of the partnering center to expand one-on-one meeting opportunities. Major pharmaceutical and biotech companies including Chong Kun Dang, SK Bioscience, Bayer, Novartis and MSD are set to participate, with expectations for outcomes such as joint research, technology transfer and investment cooperation. Country pavilions will also be operated with participation from institutions from the Netherlands, Australia, Sweden and Italy. Organizers said South Korean companies will be able to meet directly with about 60 overseas biotech companies and research institutes to explore global expansion and technology cooperation. Japan, Germany and Taiwan are also participating, with attention on collaboration as Asia-centered supply chains are reshaped. Pre-registration runs through April 17, and registrants receive a 10% discount. “Participation has expanded around future growth sectors such as AI and regenerative medicine, so we expect higher business demand than in previous years,” a BIO KOREA 2026 official said. Organizers said business partnering has increased each year, with 730 cases in 2023, 1,320 in 2024 and 1,900 in 2025. At last year’s event, global companies including Novo Nordisk, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Insilico Medicine, Eli Lilly, Takeda and Boehringer Ingelheim took part, along with South Korean companies such as Celltrion, SK Bioscience, ST Pharm, GC Green Cross, Yuhan Corp., LG Chem, Boryung Pharmaceutical and Dongwha Pharm. Organizers said more major domestic and overseas pharmaceutical and biotech companies participated than in 2024. The event also operated a “Rising” pavilion featuring promising small and venture companies, giving visitors a look at innovative technologies and items. Organizers said interest is also building for this year’s edition.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-10 09:03:00