Singapore, October 2, 2009: Despite economic slow down and other issues, the 4th annual biotech event of Korea - BIO KOREA 2009 – was able to attract close to 18000 visitors and delegates for the three day event held between September 16 and 18 at COEX, Seoul. BIO KOREA 2009 was better over the previous events with enthusiastic involvement from overseas delegates, company presentation of innovative bio products, and by offering opportunities for local companies to connect with financial and technological partners from other parts of the region.

 

Over 240 companies, including 56 companies from abroad with different area of operations such as pharmaceuticals and drug discovery, biotechnology, genomics and proteomics industrial and environmental biotechnology, BIO Chips, BIO-electronics, and BIO-Informatics, CRO, CMO, CSO, patent and legal services, venture capitals, consulting companies, medical devices and lab equipments BIO-Clusters, academic research centers, etc. participated in the exhibition.

 

The conference was started with the plenary speech by a Nobel Prize winner and Principal Scientist, Cancer Research UK Clare Hall Laboratories, Dr. Tim HUNT (Sir Richard Timothy Hunt). Mr G. Steven Burrill, CEO, Burrill & Company and Dr Jeong-Sun SEO, Professor, College of Medicine, Seoul National University also shared their views at the plenary sessions. There were 19 tracks and 54 sessions wherein 170 speakers including 70 from abroad shared their views different topics that varied from Discovery to the Market in the Life Sciences, Building and Enforcing IP Value in Korea, Stem Cell and Biologics, Changing Trends in Venture Investments, Recent Progress in Protein and DNA Chips and Global Market of Botanical Products etc. Over 4000 delegates took part in the discussions on above and other topics.

 

For those seeking collaboration opportunities and building networks for investment attraction, the organizers have made special arrangements. 94 companies including 33 companies from abroad took part in this partnership meet.

 

The delegates also had an opportunity to consult with specialists from Korea Intellectual Property Office about patent laws in Korea and also with the specialist from Korea Food & Drug Administration, national regulatory body on various issues.

 

Organized by Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and Chungcheongbuk-do, BIO KOREA 2009 got support from different industry bodies like Korea Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, Korea Drug Research Association, Korea Research-based Pharmaceutical Industry Association, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Korea BIO Organization, Korea Food Industry Association, Osong BIO Promotion Foundation,

Korea Health Supplement Association and Korea Cosmetic Association, COEX. Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs (MIHWAF) and Ministry of Knowledge of Economy (MKE) sponsored the three day event.

 

BIO KOREA was first started in 2006 to envision a bright future in Korea's bio-industry and to promote international expansion. After the past three successful years with active governmental support, BIO KOREA has become the premier bio-event in Korea where one can meet the most prominent companies and science institutions of Korea.