A forum to explore the future growth drivers of the biohealth industry in Gwangju, Jeonnam, will take place in Yeosu.
The Jeonnam Bio Promotion Agency announced that it will host the '2nd Gwangju Biohealth Week 2026' on November 19 at the JCS Hotel in Yeosu, under the theme 'Unified Gwangju, A Greater Future for Biohealth.'
The event is expected to attract over 250 participants from bio companies, universities, research institutions, and hospitals, who will share insights on policy directions and the latest technological trends in the biohealth sector while discussing growth strategies for the local industry.
Following last year's 'Southwest Biohealth Week 2025,' this second event aims to consolidate the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization capabilities of the Gwangju region, focusing on linking corporate support and investment attraction.
The program will begin at 10:30 a.m. with participant registration, followed by a welcome ceremony, declaration ceremony, expert lectures, a corporate support program briefing, and an exhibition of achievements.
In particular, the afternoon expert lectures will focus on strategies for creating advanced medical complexes, new drug development, regenerative medicine, and attracting corporate investments, which are crucial for the future competitiveness of the local biohealth industry.
Lee Seong-kyu, head of the K-Health Future Promotion Team, will introduce the Korean-style ARPA-H project, while Sun Kyung, director of the project, will discuss the necessity of establishing an advanced medical complex in the Honam region and strategies for linking it with the Korean-style ARPA-H project.
Following that, Oh Il-woong, head of the Vaccine Safety Technology Support Center, will explain the application of new approach methodologies (NAMs) in the biohealth sector and regulatory trends. Park Jeong-tae, vice president of the Korea Bio Pharmaceutical Association, will present opportunities, challenges, and response strategies for K-Bio's entry into the global market.
Discussions on attracting investments necessary for the growth of bio companies and future medical technologies will also take place.
Kim Seong-ha, head of Gravity Ventures' investment division, will introduce venture investment procedures and strategies for attracting investments at various stages of startup growth. Yoon Taek-rim, director of the Regenerative Medicine Promotion Foundation, will give a lecture on the potential for development in regenerative medicine and treatments for aging and incurable diseases.
The corporate support program briefing will cover initiatives such as support for green bio companies, scale-up support for bio firms, startup investment support, and fostering K-pharmaceutical and bio frontier companies.
Through this, local bio companies are expected to identify suitable support programs for their growth stages and seek collaborative opportunities that link technology development, commercialization, and investment attraction.
The event will also feature a sharing of achievements from the K-Biohealth Regional Center support program and an exhibition of key outcomes from supported companies.
The Jeonnam Bio Promotion Agency will also introduce major research and development projects and industrial foundation-building initiatives, including AI-based vaccine manufacturing and quality control, standardization of natural material resources, and domestic production of raw materials based on agricultural and biological resources.
Park Seong-yoon, head of the Strategic Planning Office at the Jeonnam Bio Promotion Agency, stated, "This event will gather the biohealth capabilities of Gwangju and share policy, technology, and investment information needed by companies. We aim to expand opportunities for technology commercialization and growth for local companies based on collaboration among industry, academia, research, and hospitals, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the bio industry."
Meanwhile, the Jeonnam Bio Promotion Agency plans to expand its collaborative foundation to ensure that the research and development achievements of the local biohealth industry lead to tangible growth for companies and strengthen industrial competitiveness. As the establishment of an advanced medical complex in the Honam region and the potential for linking with national research and development projects are key agenda items, attention is focused on whether specific collaborative projects and follow-up achievements will emerge in the future.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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