Osong, Oct 10, 2008: The 3^rd edition of the annual BIO KOREA convention held at Osong Bio-Technopolis attracted 235 companies with over 20,000 visitors. There were 54 companies from Canada, Australia, United States, Europe, Thailand, and India participating at the event.

 

Osong Bio-Technoplis, located in Korea’s idealist zone facilitated with the best bio infrastructure, represents an outpost for Korea's bio industry. Osong Bio-Health Science Technopolis has been developed to intensively foster health and bio industries as Korea’s strategic industries and establish itself as ‘the hub of Northeast Asia & world’s leading high-tech bio-health complex’ by 2025.

 

Besides leading research organizations, bio suppliers, biotech companies, leading local life sciences companies such as Hanmi, LG Life Sciences, Green Cross, Dang, Samsung, Kolon Life Sciences Bioland, RNLbio, Daewoong Pharmaceuticals, Celltrion and others have booths at the exhibition.

 

This largest biotech show in Korea provided platform for local and multinational companies to showcase their products/ technologies and to interact, share updates about the latest happenings in the industry.

 

Commenting on the three day exhibition that commenced October 8, Ms Sronkanok Tongjaijit, international relation officer, National center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Thailand, said, “We did receive a good response. This year it is bigger and twice the size of last year’s event. There is an interest among the local companies to know more about what is happening in our country.”  

 

Mr Rajat Kumar of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories from India, said, “We have been regularly participating in BIO KOREA since 2006. There is a good response, though the event is being held a bit far from the city.”

 

Mr George Ross, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Research and Innovation, Government of Ontario, Canada said, “There is lot of interests between Korea and Ontario. This event will further boost the research and development activities between both the countries in the areas of stem cells, medical technology, oncology and other areas.”  

Dr. William J. Rutter, Chairman & CEO, Synergenics, Prof Sir Ian Wilmut , Director & Professor, Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Dr. O Young Lee, Advisor, JoongAng Ilbo, made key note address at the conference. In addition to the above about 114 speakers and delegates both local and oversees discussed on different topics including vaccine, clinic, regenerative medicine, new medicine developed from natural substances, antibodies, technology commercialization, investment attraction and industry policies & system. They also exchanged ideas on latest knowledge and technology on the current biotechnology issues, discover challenges at the 39 sessions held concurrently at 13 tracks.

 

Jointly organized by Chungcheongbuk-do provincial government, Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) and Korea International Trade Association (KITA), BIO KOREA 2008 received the support from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) and Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs (MIHWAF).

 

Besides the conference, about 109 companies held one-to –one partnering meeting at the Bio Business Forum, in which 42 companies made presentations.  At the previous event, BIO KOREA 2007 hosted 232 companies and 17,102 visitors from across the globe including the US, Japan, EU and Australia in last year.

 

The Korean bio-industry represents a substantial amount of growth in the recent past. It has been growing at an average growth rate of 14 % per year over the last three years. The great strides in the field of Korean bio-industry are attributed to the support and effort of government, academics, research institutes and companies from related industry.

 

The Korean government is nurturing BIO industries to become the core national strategic industry in the 21st century with pledge funds and policies. Moreover, the Korean people have keen sight toward BIO industries for potential growth under many conditions. Bio Korea will continue to provide platform and act as a catalyst to the local organizations both private and public sector to interact with each other and with over sees organizations to lead the biotechnology industry to further heights.