Bio Korea Attracts 30,000 Visitors, Concludes Successfully: "Developing as the Nation's Next-Generation Growth Engine"

'Leap into New Growth Innovation Technologies in the Hyperconnected Era' Theme
730 Companies from 51 Countries Participating... Over 29,400 Attendees
Business Partnering, Exhibition, Conference, Investment Fair
All Programs Operated On-site

Bio Korea, the largest bio and health event in Korea, successfully concluded, attracting around 30,000 visitors.

Exhibition booth at 'Bio Korea 2023' held from the 10th to the 12th. [Photo by Korea Health Industry Development Institute]

The Korea Health Industry Development Institute announced on the 15th that 'Bio Korea 2023 (BIO KOREA 2023)', co-hosted with Chungcheongbuk-do Province, concluded on the 12th.

Marking its 18th edition this year, Bio Korea was held over three days at COEX in Seoul under the theme "Leap to New Growth Innovation Technologies in the Hyperconnected Era." The event presented directions for the biohealth industry to develop as a convergent and future core strategic industry following the COVID-19 pandemic. The event recorded participation from 730 companies across 51 countries and attracted approximately 29,400 visitors.

This year, all programs of Bio Korea, including business partnering, exhibitions, conferences, and the invest fair, were operated primarily on-site. In business partnering, domestic and international biohealth companies participated in meetings to explore various collaboration opportunities such as technology exchange and joint research. Over 500 participants held more than 1,200 meetings during the three days. Notably, with the COVID-19 endemic phase, the number of overseas participants increased by about 30% compared to the previous year, and the number of meetings also rose by approximately 65% due to the face-to-face format.

From the 10th to the 12th, officials participating in business partnering at 'Bio Korea 2023' are having discussions.
[Photo by Korea Health Industry Development Institute]

At the exhibition, 338 companies from 18 countries, including IQVIA, LabCorp, Hanmi Pharmaceutical, and Yuhan Corporation, operated promotional booths. Additionally, exhibition halls were divided by theme, featuring zones such as the Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) zone, Clinical Research Organization (CRO) zone, Advanced Regenerative Medicine hall, and national pavilions showcasing outstanding bio and health companies and technologies from countries like Australia, Canada, and Germany. The number of overseas companies participating in the exhibition increased by 57% compared to the previous year. More than 100 local companies participated in the national pavilions, actively engaging in business discussions with domestic companies.

Many Canadian delegation companies participating in Bio Korea 2023, specializing in artificial intelligence (AI), precision medicine, oncology, and cell therapy, visited Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s Pyeongtaek bio plant for a factory tour, sharing research and development status and discussing joint cooperation.

The conference featured 21 sessions covering the latest issues and technological trends, from regenerative medicine, vaccines, and gene therapy technologies to digital transformation and next-generation clinical trials. Over 120 speakers presented at the conference. According to event officials, sessions on "Next-Generation Clinical Trials" and "AI Drug Development," which are newly spotlighted in the biohealth industry during the digital transformation era, attracted significant attention.

The conference is being held at 'Bio Korea 2023,' which took place from the 10th to the 12th.
[Photo by Korea Health Industry Development Institute]

At the invest fair, presentations and discussions were held across six sessions on regenerative medicine, digital therapeutics, therapeutics, vaccines, convergent medical devices, and strategies for entering overseas markets. Thirty-four domestic and international bio and health companies participated, introducing their technological capabilities, management strategies, and visions to investors.

At the opening ceremony on the first day, Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "The digital transformation era, where paradigms in medical, health, and care services are changing, will be an opportunity for Korea, which possesses excellent information and communication technology (ICT) and big data, to emerge as a global leader." He added, "We will expand investments and improve regulations to foster an innovative ecosystem so that the digital and biohealth industries become the nation's next-generation growth engines."

Cha Soon-do, President of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, said, "Thanks to the great interest and active participation of domestic and international companies, institutions, and stakeholders, we were able to successfully conclude Bio Korea 2023." He added, "We will continue to establish Bio Korea as the largest platform for technology and business exchange in Korea and do our best to develop the biohealth industry as the next-generation driving industry leading the Republic of Korea."

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