A Comprehensive Look at Domestic and International Bio Status... 'BIX 2023' Opens

The Korea Bio Association and RX Korea announced on the 12th that the global comprehensive bio convention ‘BioPlus-Interphex Korea (BIX) 2023,’ co-hosted by the two organizations, will be held from the 12th to the 14th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

This year’s BIX is organized under the slogan 'Revamping the Industry,' symbolizing the determination to overcome the difficulties faced by the Korean bio industry and grow stronger. The event is broadly composed of ▲Conference ▲Corporate Exhibition ▲Partnering ▲Open Innovation Stage, allowing attendees to experience the latest trends in the bio industry. For the first time this year, a docent tour will also be offered as a side event.

About 400 VIPs, including officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, are expected to attend the opening ceremony on the 12th. Attendees include Go Han-seung, Chairman of the Korea Bio Association and CEO of Samsung Bioepis; Lim Jeong-bae, Chairman of the Bio Association and CEO of Daesang; Son Ju-beom, CEO of RX Korea; and notable foreign guests such as Nancy Travis, Vice President of International Cooperation at the U.S. Bio Association (BIO), and J?nis Indriksons, Minister of Economics of Latvia, who will make a special visit to Korea.

The conference will be held in the conference rooms on the 3rd floor of COEX. It consists of keynote sessions, specialized sessions, and corporate sessions, totaling 36 sessions with 130 speakers. The first day’s keynote session, ‘REVAMPING THE INDUSTRY I ? Current Status and Future Directions of the Korean Bio Industry,’ will be chaired by Lee Seung-gyu, Vice Chairman of the Bio Association, who will propose solutions to overcome the triple challenges (high exchange rates, weakened investment sentiment, and raised listing thresholds) that the industry has recently faced.

The exhibition will feature 400 booths from 200 companies across 14 countries. Visitors can explore the latest trends converging with bio, including research and development (R&D), manufacturing processes, logistics, packaging, digital healthcare, and advanced bio technologies. Corporate consultations will be available at each exhibition booth.

The Open Innovation Stage, a major side event, will host 41 speakers across 13 sessions presenting corporate announcements. Partnering sessions, where business meetings between participating companies and visitors can take place, will be held in a dedicated lounge within Hall D of the exhibition center. Through partnering, attendees will have the opportunity to meet over 200 companies.

Networking with overseas public institutions visiting Korea through BIX will also be actively promoted. Yantai Huangbalhaixin District from China will hold a briefing session to promote cooperation between the Korean and Chinese bio industries. On the 12th, the Latvian Minister of Economics will visit Korea to sign an MOU. Additionally, Nancy Travis, Vice President of External Cooperation at the U.S. Bio Association, will attend to discuss the impact of the Biden administration’s executive orders on the Korean bio economy and provide a debriefing on the Bio International Convention (Bio USA) 2023.

The Microbiome New Drug Companies Council, founded by 27 companies led by the association, will hold its inaugural ceremony on the 13th. About 100 participants, including microbiome new drug developers, related institutions, and corporate representatives, will attend.

Son Ju-beom, CEO of RX Korea, said, “The partnering and side events at this BIX have been diversely organized not only to attract companies participating in the exhibition but also to increase investor interest. We aim to create actual business deals by matching investment with technology.” Go Han-seung, Chairman of the Bio Association, added, “We have worked to harmonize the conference, exhibition, partnering, and side events to align with the purpose of a comprehensive bio convention. This year, overseas participation has increased, and we see that the event is developing in line with its goal as a global comprehensive bio convention. Next year, we plan to further increase overseas participation and elevate the event to a platform where the domestic bio industry and foreign investors can network directly.”

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