Innovation and Collaboration: Building the Future Together
BIO KOREA 2025 Opens in Seoul
- Korea’s largest international biohealth industry convention to be held May 7–9 -
- A platform for open innovation through business partnering, investment fair, exhibition, and academic conference -
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister Cho KyooHong) and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI, President Cha SoonDo) announced that BIO KOREA 2025 will be held from Wednesday, May 7 through Friday, May 9, at Hall C of COEX in Seoul.
Launched in 2006 with participation from 344 companies across 20 countries and approximately 15,000 visitors, BIO KOREA marks its 20th edition this year. The event has more than doubled in scale, with 753 companies from 61 countries (as of April 30 pre-registration) and an expected attendance of 30,000. As Korea’s flagship international biohealth convention, it has played a pivotal role in elevating Korea’s presence in the global biohealth industry by showcasing its technological capabilities and promoting international trade and collaboration.
In 2006, Korea's technology exports in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors amounted to just seven deals worth USD 37.79 million. By 2024, that figure had risen to 17 deals worth USD 6.2 billion—a more than 160-fold increase. Korea also achieved a record-high pharmaceutical export volume of USD 9.3 billion in 2024, demonstrating its growing role as a key driver of the national economy.
Event Highlights
Under the theme “Innovation and Collaboration: Building the Future Together,” BIO KOREA 2025 will feature a diverse array of programs, including business partnering, an investment fair, an exhibition, and an academic conference.
1. Business Partnering
The business partnering program facilitates pre-matched, on-site meetings between companies, investors, and research institutes with shared interests. It serves as a platform for open innovation through joint research, technology transfer, and investment opportunities.
Global pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Novo Nordisk, MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme), Eli Lilly, Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim, Takeda, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, and Insilico Medicine will participate, along with leading Korean firms including Celltrion, SK bioscience, ST Pharm, GC Biopharma, Yuhan Corporation, LG Chem, Boryung, and Dongwha Pharm. This year, more Korean and global pharmaceutical and biotech companies than ever are expected to join, offering valuable opportunities for biotech ventures seeking partnerships with established firms.
This year, reflecting increased demand* from Korean and global pharmaceutical companies for international collaboration, the number of partnering booths has increased by 21% (from 56 in 2024 to 68 in 2025). A “Partnering Reception” will also be held on Thursday, May 8 at 5 p.m. at The Platz (COEX 2F) to further enhance business networking.
*2024: 561 participants from 35 countries, 1,900 meetings → 2025: 567 participants from 26 countries, 1,820 meetings (as of May 1)
2. Investment Fair
The “Invest Fair” will spotlight new growth opportunities and strategic responses in the Korean biohealth industry amid the rise of Middle Eastern and Asian markets. Key participants include national and institutional investors such as Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment (MISA), the UK Department for Business and Trade, and Singapore's CBC Group (C-Bridge Capital). Discussions will center on their investment strategies targeting emerging markets and the potential for collaboration with Korean biotechnology firms.
In addition, traditional investment institutions from the United States and Europe, such as Solasta Ventures, Bain Capital, Deerfield, and SD&K Holdings, will participate to share strategic approaches for overcoming investment barriers faced by Korean companies seeking entry into the global market. The event will also serve as a forum for in-depth discussions on the capabilities and growth potential of Korean biotech companies as viewed by the global capital market.
3. Exhibition
The exhibition hall will feature 429 booths set up by 323 companies (including 117 foreign companies) from 20 countries. Participants include Korean and international pharmaceutical companies, a “Rising Pavilion” for leading Korean small and medium-sized biotech ventures, a regenerative medicine pavilion, and national pavilions hosted by foreign embassies and trade offices. Major Korean pharmaceutical firms such as Celltrion, ST Pharm, Yuhan Corporation, and ABL Bio will participate alongside global pharmaceutical giants including Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, and Lonza.
Notably, this year’s event will include a dedicated “Rising Pavilion” showcasing 24 promising Korean biotech startups with cutting-edge technologies. In the national pavilions, delegations from 70 companies representing nine countries*—led by foreign embassies and trade missions in Korea—will engage in active business exchanges with interested Korean companies.
*Participating countries: Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Germany, the United States, Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan.
4. Academic Conference
The academic conference will begin with an opening ceremony on Wednesday, May 7, in Room 401 at COEX, followed by a keynote address. A total of 14 sessions will be held, featuring 111 experts from 11 countries in the biohealth sector who will share insights and lead discussions on the latest trends and future outlook of the industry.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Alex Zhavoronkov, CEO of Insilico Medicine, a company that has advanced a drug candidate—discovered through its proprietary AI platform—into Phase 2 clinical trials. He will speak about the current state and future prospects of AI-driven drug development and share his experience in fostering innovation through global collaboration.
5. Open Sessions
Thirteen open sessions will also take place in Hall E and conference rooms on the 3rd floor of COEX, accessible to all participants registered as VISITOR or above.
*Participants who pre-register on the official website by April 30 can attend the open sessions free of charge. On-site registration will incur a fee of KRW 10,000.
During the opening ceremony, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Park MinSoo stated, “Global companies are expressing strong interest in the potential of Korea’s biohealth sector. We hope that BIO KOREA, now in its 20th year, serves as a launching pad for Korean companies with next-generation technologies to enter global markets through open innovation.”
He added, “To position Korea as a global leader in biohealth, the government will actively support the development of innovative technologies and the creation of a robust global collaboration ecosystem through KRW 1 trillion in R&D funding, the establishment of the K-Bio Vaccine Fund, expanded export support, professional workforce development, and regulatory improvements.”
In his opening remarks, Cha SoonDo, President of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, said, “In today’s rapidly evolving biohealth landscape, it is more important than ever for companies, institutions, researchers, and investors from around the world to come together to share the latest industry trends and issues, and to discuss future strategies and pathways for growth. We hope that BIO KOREA will continue to serve as a global platform that fosters business collaboration among stakeholders in both the domestic and international biohealth industries.”
The detailed program schedule and additional information for BIO KOREA 2025 are available on the official website (www.biokorea.org). Those who did not complete pre-registration for the offline event can register on-site at the COEX venue during the event period. ///