Incheon Attracts Bio Industry Technology Complex and Workforce Training Center... Boosting 'Bio Cluster' Development

Attracting 227 Companies to the Bio-Convergence Industrial Technology Complex by 2024
Establishment of Asia's First Government-Led Educational Institution, the Bio-Process Workforce Training Center

Perspective view of the 'Bio-Convergence Industrial Technology Complex' to be developed by 2024 in District 11, Songdo International City, Incheon [Provided by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City has gained momentum in its project to build a world-class bio cluster by consecutively attracting a bio industrial technology complex and bio workforce training institutions for small and venture businesses.

According to Incheon City on the 20th, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups recently gave final approval for the designation of the 'Bio Convergence Industrial Technology Complex' in District 11 of Songdo International City.

The complex, to be developed by Incheon Technopark (Incheon TP), a city-funded institution, on a 106,865㎡ site by 2024, is one of the core projects of Incheon’s Bio Health Valley initiative.

It is planned to be a specialized bio convergence industrial technology complex that integrates bio, healthcare, beauty, and medical device industries, establishing a complete industrial cycle from research and development (R&D) to export. The complex will consist of a Bio Win-Win Cooperation Center, public attraction facilities, and specialized zones for each industrial sector.

The Bio Win-Win Cooperation Center, with a total floor area of 100,300㎡, aims to house 203 bio venture and startup companies. It will include bio venture incubation rooms, bio equipment rooms, business support offices, and various convenience facilities.

On the public attraction site, public and private institutions supporting bio companies, a Bio Raw Material Localization Support Center, a Medical Device Clinical Evaluation Support Center, and a Global Demonstration Training Center will be established. The specialized zones by industry will host 24 companies in the bio, beauty, and medical device sectors, building R&D and manufacturing facilities.

Incheon TP plans to start recruiting tenant companies as early as the end of next year after consultations with related institutions. They expect to attract 227 bio companies and create over 4,600 jobs.

Currently, Incheon is home to global bio anchor companies such as Celltrion and Samsung Biologics, and it is the world’s number one bio-pharmaceutical production city based on a single city standard, with new investments underway. However, there is a relative shortage of small and strong companies or research institutions that can collaborate and connect with global companies.

Accordingly, Incheon City plans to expand the bio industry framework from focusing on 'biopharmaceuticals' to 'biohealthcare,' actively fostering various industries in the bio-convergence field, and creating a win-win ecosystem where large corporations, small and venture businesses, and startups can grow together, thereby establishing a foundation to leap forward as a global bio industry hub.

Additionally, Incheon City has attracted a 'Bio Process Workforce Training Center' where domestic large bio companies and overseas firms can secure excellent talent.

This national project workforce training center, once opened, will be the third government-led educational institution in the world following Europe and the United States, and the first in Asia.

The city will construct the center building at Yonsei University International Campus from this year through 2023 and will begin full-scale educational programs in 2024. Yonsei University, responsible for the educational operations, plans to offer master's degree programs and non-degree courses for employees and job seekers, aiming to train 2,000 specialized personnel annually.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the demand for new personnel in the bio process (production facilities and quality control) sector is expected to be 16,554 from last year through 2023.

However, the supply of personnel is only 10,356 (an average of 2,071 per year), falling significantly short of demand. Especially in the rapidly growing advanced biopharmaceutical sector, the demand for new personnel is expected to surge, making workforce training in the bio field urgent.

Mayor Park Namchun stated, "The designation of the industrial technology complex and the selection of the bio process workforce training center project will be an opportunity for Incheon’s bio cluster to advance to the next level," adding, "With the establishment of biopharmaceutical production bases, various research institutes, industrial technology complexes, and workforce training institutions, we will create a bio cluster recognized as a global role model."

Meanwhile, Incheon City is promoting a plan to build the world’s largest bio cluster in Songdo International City by 2030 as a core project for creating a future new growth industrial city.

They plan to connect the bio cluster developed on 920,000㎡ in Songdo Districts 4 and 5 to the newly reclaimed District 11 of Songdo, expanding the total area to 2 million㎡, increasing the total number of tenant companies to 700, and raising employment from the current 5,000 to 20,000.

In particular, they intend to complete the bio healthcare value chain, which links 'R&D - clinical trials - reliability verification - production,' and expand the total bio-pharmaceutical production capacity from 560,000 liters to over 1 million liters. Additionally, by attracting comprehensive medical facilities such as Songdo Severance Hospital, they plan to provide advanced medical services and link them with bio research.

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