775 Companies from 59 Countries Gather as 'BIO KOREA 2026' Kicks Off

Held for Three Days at COEX, Seoul, from April 28 to 30

128 Partnering Booths—Double Last Year’s Figure

"Supporting K-Pharma and Bio to Become a Global Top Five Powerhouse"

'BIO KOREA 2026,' the nation’s premier international event for the biohealth industry, kicked off on April 28 at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Marking its 21st edition since its inception, this year's event features participation from 775 companies across 59 countries.

The opening ceremony of 'Bio Korea 2026' is being held on the 28th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. National Institute for Korean Medicine Development

Jointly hosted by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute and North Chungcheong Province, the event runs for three days from April 28 to 30. Under the theme of 'Innovation and Breakthroughs for a Better Future,' the program includes business partnering, exhibitions, conferences, and more.

Chasoon Do, President of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, stated in the opening speech, "For innovative technologies and ideas in the biohealth industry to overcome the limits of capital and regulation and lead to investment, commercialization, and ultimately global expansion, it is essential to establish organic connections and cooperation among technology, industry, and global networks. We will actively support BIO KOREA in its continued growth as a global business exchange that opens the future for the biohealth industry."

Lee Dongwook, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs of North Chungcheong Province, said in his welcoming address, "North Chungcheong Province is emerging as a global bio hub, drawing worldwide attention, with Korea’s only specialized cluster for biopharmaceutical materials and components and an advanced regenerative bio global innovation zone as its axes. BIO KOREA is the starting point for the leap forward of Korea’s bioindustry and a stage for cooperation to design and realize the future together."

The business partnering program provides an on-site platform for companies, investors, and research institutes matched in advance based on their interests to meet directly and explore collaborations such as joint research, technology transfer, and investment discussions. Reflecting the rising demand for business exchange and global cooperation, the number of partnering booths has doubled from last year to 128. Major global pharmaceutical companies such as Bayer, Daiichi Sankyo, Johnson & Johnson, MSD, Eli Lilly, and Roche as well as leading domestic firms including Chong Kun Dang, SK Bioscience, ST Pharm, Yuhan Corporation, and LG Chem are participating in force.

The exhibition features 364 booths from 299 companies, including individual booths for domestic and international pharmaceutical and bio firms, a regenerative medicine promotion center, and international pavilions. Eight countries—including Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany—are represented by 77 companies in their national pavilions, engaging in business exchange with Korean companies. The conference brings together 101 speakers from 11 countries—representing biohealth companies and related experts—who will share insights and lead discussions on the latest trends and future strategies for the biohealth industry across 12 sessions in six key areas: global investment trends, open innovation, AI & digital health, global expansion strategies, advanced technologies, and alternative toxicity testing.

In the global expansion strategy section, the focus will be on global regulatory innovation, real-world cases of overseas market entry, and strategies for developing blockbuster new drugs tailored to the Korean context, offering practical takeaways for domestic companies aiming for overseas expansion.

Furthermore, the investment sessions will feature global venture capitalists and investment experts who will share updates on the latest trends in the bio investment market, corporate evaluation criteria, and investment strategies for each stage of clinical development. They will also engage in in-depth discussions on promising technologies and collaboration opportunities from the perspective of global investors.

This year also marks the debut of 'K-Biopharma NextBridge,' which is drawing attention. Six global companies—AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, MSD, Novo Nordisk, and Roche—are participating to identify promising Korean bio companies and seek opportunities for joint research and commercialization.

Jung Kyung-sil, policy chief of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "BIO KOREA is a symbolic event where global companies, promising domestic firms, research institutes, and investors gather in one place to create opportunities for collaboration between innovative technologies and business, and to demonstrate Korea’s capability to become a global bio powerhouse. The government will also actively support the pharmaceutical and bioindustry’s advancement into the world’s top five through strengthening the R&D ecosystem, regulatory innovation and support for global expansion, cultivation of professional talent, and open innovation."

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