Siheung City Launches Full-Scale Workforce Training to Foster a Global Bio Hub

20 Trainees from 12 Countries Participate in "Practical Training on Antibody Drug Production Processes"

Siheung City in Gyeonggi Province is launching full-scale workforce training programs to foster a global bioindustry hub.

From November 3 to November 7, Siheung City will conduct "Practical Training on Antibody Drug Production Processes" at the Gyeonggi Siheung SNU Pharmaceutical Bio Workforce Training Center, located at Seoul National University Siheung Campus. This initiative is part of the "Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing (GTH-B)" program, jointly promoted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The exterior of the "Gyeonggi Siheung SNU Pharmaceutical Bio Workforce Training Center" located at Seoul National University Siheung Campus. It is responsible for global bio workforce training in Korea under the World Health Organization (WHO). Provided by Siheung City

The training program will be attended by 20 participants from 12 countries, including Bangladesh, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan. The trainees will learn about the full value chain of antibody drugs through online theoretical courses and participate in hands-on, field-based training focused on quality control (QC).

The Gyeonggi Siheung SNU Pharmaceutical Bio Workforce Training Center serves as the core domestic training institution for the WHO Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing project. It is responsible for cultivating professionals in the manufacturing and quality control of antibody drugs. The curriculum focuses on industry-required skills, including establishing quality control systems, impurity analysis, protein purification, cell-based analysis, and sterility testing.

The training program also introduces a virtual reality (VR)-based aseptic manufacturing practice module. This program incorporates 74 VR modules developed by U.S. field experts, enabling trainees to safely experience various scenarios that may occur in manufacturing sites, in accordance with the latest Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards for pharmaceuticals and quality control.

Since being designated as a WHO GTH-B in 2022, Korea has supported the enhancement of vaccine and biopharmaceutical production capabilities in low- and middle-income countries. In July 2023, Siheung City was designated as a "Global Bio Campus" by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and has since been working to build education and training infrastructure.

Lim Byeongtaek, Mayor of Siheung City, stated, "We will continue to expand global cooperation and educational opportunities centered on the Pharmaceutical Bio Workforce Training Center, aiming to grow into a world-class city of bio-innovation."

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