MOHW Supports Rapid Growth of Biopharma Companies Through Global Collaboration

- Launch of “K-Biopharma Next Bridge” in partnership with Roche, AbbVie, Amgen, Novo Nordisk, MSD, and AstraZeneca -

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister Jeong Eun Kyeong) and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI, President Cha Soon-do) announced that they 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.

   * Open innovation refers to a model in which companies source technologies and ideas externally while sharing internal resources with external partners to create new products or services, enabling technologies and ideas to move across organizational boundaries and drive innovation.

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 programs 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 programs have been consolidated under a single brand, “K-Biopharma Next Bridge*”, starting this year, with plans to select at least 16 companies.

   * The integrated program 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)

[Major Outcomes of Open Innovation with Global Leaders]

Companies selected for the K-Biopharma Next Bridge program will be provided with various growth opportunities*, including R&D and commercialization consulting, prize funding, support for residency at an overseas accelerator center** (Basel SIP), and investment linkages.

   * Support details vary by program.

  ** The accelerator center is a specialized growth-support institution designed to enhance the commercialization success rate and global competitiveness of technology-based startups through comprehensive support, including market analysis, investment linkages, mentoring, collaboration with large and mid-sized enterprises, and overseas expansion assistance.

Companies interested in participating may find detailed information on each program on the KHIDI website (www.khidi.or.kr) and the K-Biopharma Next Bridge website (https://khidi.kwebinar.kr/pharma_bridge.php).

Jung Eun-young, Director General of Health Industry Policy at the MOHW, stated, “As open innovation outcomes continue to accumulate, interest from global companies in Korean firms has grown significantly. We will expand open innovation with global leaders so that Korean firms with promising technologies can successfully enter global markets and achieve commercialization.”

Cha Soon-do, President of KHIDI, added, “Through diverse open innovation partnerships, including joint research, mentoring, and residency support, we will build bridges to help Korean companies advance into global markets. We will actively support the global expansion and strong performance of Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech companies.” 

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