Seoul: Bio Korea 2025, South Korea's largest health and pharmaceutical industry trade fair, kicked off Wednesday, bringing together some 750 companies from across the world to showcase the latest technological innovations and trends in the bio sector.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the annual trade show, now in its 20th year, opened at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) in southern Seoul for a three-day run under the theme "Innovation and Cooperation, Shaping the Future Together," according to its organizers. Some 30,000 visitors are expected to take a look around 429 booths operated by 323 companies worldwide, the organizers said.
In the business partnering program, major global and Korean biopharmas will take part, including Johnson and Johnson, Novo Nordisk, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Celltrion Inc., and SK bioscience Co. This year's event will explore developments in the biohealth sector driven by artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies, and recent industry trends, such as new modalities and anti-aging.
"To help South Korea emerge as a global hub for the biohealth industry, the government will actively promote the development of innovative bio technologies and the establishment of a global cooperation ecosystem by providing 1 trillion won (US$721 million) worth of support for R and D projects, creating a K-bio vaccine fund, expanding export support, fostering specialized talents and improving regulations," Park Min-soo, second vice health minister, said in a congratulatory message for the event.