Growing Bio in the 'Post-Semiconductor' Era

Discussion on Innovation Measures at the Economic Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting
Research Data Station to be Established Next Year

[Asia Economy Reporters Choi Dae-yeol and Jang Se-hee] The government has decided to create a 'National Bio Research Data Station' by next year to efficiently consolidate and manage life science research information scattered across various ministries, individual projects, or researchers. It will also be equipped with emergency infrastructure to swiftly respond to large-scale infectious disease outbreaks like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 2nd, during the Emergency Economic Central Countermeasures Headquarters meeting, that it finalized a strategy to build big data resources for life science research. The upcoming data station will serve as a hub for all data generated and utilized through government bio research and development (R&D) processes, including genomic images, biochemical analysis data, clinical and preclinical information, and molecular structures.

A separate registration system will be established to facilitate easy data submission at the individual researcher level, supported institutionally through collection and management guidelines and committees. Researchers will be encouraged to participate by receiving mileage points and additional evaluation credits based on their data registration and grading. To enhance usability, data registration formats will be standardized, and data analysis tools and online collaboration spaces will be provided.

Data holds greater importance in the bio industry, such as in developing new drugs or medical devices, than in other fields. Although the significance of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data is emphasized, even the fundamental data collection is considered unstructured, prompting these measures. According to the government, the current big data utilization rate stands at only 7%. The plan is to increase this to 40% by 2025.

Bio Data Station Structure Diagram

Establishing Emergency Infrastructure to Prepare for 'Bio Disasters'
Reclassification of Material Resource Banks into 14 Groups

Given the possibility of infectious diseases spreading to disaster levels at any time, emergency infrastructure will also be established as a precaution. This includes rapidly securing and distributing viruses, specimens, and therapeutic candidate substances, as well as expanding high-level research facilities (BSL3 or higher) capable of studying pathogenic viruses. In emergencies, non-public data will be temporarily disclosed, and animal testing platforms will be standardized. These measures aim to expedite the development of diagnostic devices and encourage the creation of treatments and vaccines, as confirmed during the COVID-19 phase.

Additionally, among the 274 material resource banks operated by various ministries, those with insufficient performance will be consolidated and reorganized into 14 groups based on material categories. Minister Choi Ki-young of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "New engines of innovative growth begin with data-based digital infrastructure," adding, "We will cooperate across ministries to activate AI-based bio research leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution."

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki said at the meeting, "Preventing at least a recession in the second half of the year is an urgent and critical task, and we will definitely achieve a return to positive growth." Regarding the one-year anniversary of Japan's export restrictions, he said, "It has been one year since Japan unjustly imposed export restrictions on Korea related to the forced labor compensation issue," urging, "The Japanese government should show sincere progress toward lifting export restrictions and resolving the matter." The government plans to soon announce detailed plans for the 'SoBuJang 2.0 Strategy' to foster the leap of the materials, parts, and equipment industry, which has been intensively nurtured following Japan's export restrictions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.