image credit- shutterstock
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW), South Korea government, and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) are recruiting participating companies for the 2026 Global Leading Company Collaboration Program (K-Biopharma Next Bridge) to promote global open innovation in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.
The MoHW and KHIDI have been implementing global open innovation support initiatives to address challenges faced by Korean companies, including limited experience and capital for global new drug development and significant uncertainty in overseas expansion due to differences in regulatory and policy environments across countries.
Through various programmes conducted in partnership with global companies, the government has identified promising Korean companies and achieved outcomes in overseas expansion, including technology transfer and licensing deals. As interest from global leading companies has grown, the programmes have been consolidated under a single brand, “K-Biopharma Next Bridge”, starting this year, with plans to select at least 16 companies.
The integrated programme includes:
① Roche – Korea-Switzerland Bio Path (4 companies)
② AbbVie – Biotech Innovator Award (2 companies)
③ Amgen – Golden Ticket (2 companies)
④ Novo Nordisk – Partnering Day (3 companies)
⑤ MSD – Partnering Day (5 companies)
⑥ AstraZeneca – Project NOVA (no limit on the number of companies)
Companies selected for the K-Biopharma Next Bridge program will be provided with various growth opportunities, including R&D and commercialisation consulting, prize funding, support for residency at an overseas accelerator center (Basel SIP), and investment linkages.
