National Bio Committee to Launch in December
The National Bio Committee, chaired by President Yoon Suk-yeol, will be inaugurated in December. This committee will oversee and coordinate domestic bio policies, alongside existing strategic technology committees like the National Space Committee and the National AI Committee. The government aims to position bio, along with AI and space, as key pillars for Korea’s future growth.
Park Sang-wook, the Presidential Chief Secretary for Science and Technology, announced that following the Advanced Bio Initiative released in April, the related governance structures were quickly reorganized to facilitate the committee’s formation. The committee seeks to address previous criticisms of fragmented bio policy management across various ministries, aiming to link the entire value chain from basic research to clinical and commercial applications seamlessly.
The committee will be chaired by President Yoon, with Lee Sang-yeop, Vice President of KAIST and a renowned bio scholar, appointed as vice-chair. The committee will comprise up to 40 members, including prominent experts like Kim Bit-nae-ri, Director of the Institute for Basic Science, and Ko Han-seung, President of Samsung Bioepis.
It features three subcommittees and four special committees, with a focus on fostering innovations like bio-health data and AI-integrated bio-tech through the Digital Bio Special Committee.
Park further emphasized the establishment of a collaborative framework across government departments to enhance strategic R&D governance, rapidly make policy decisions, and invest boldly. The committee plans to synchronize closely with the National Science and Technology Advisory Council to strengthen Korea’s science and technology policies.
The inclusion of Kim Young-tae, Director of Seoul National University Hospital, underscores the committee’s role in not only advancing R&D governance but also reforming the healthcare sector.
Additionally, the government plans to launch a Quantum Strategy Committee within the year, completing the four major strategy committees to focus on pivotal technologies like quantum science.
In response to potential changes following the U.S. presidential election, a presidential office official stated that cooperation in key technologies such as AI, quantum, and bio will remain a focal point to counterbalance China’s rise, regardless of the election’s outcome.