In Seoul, Yu Sang-im, the Minister of Science and ICT, visited the research sites in the advanced bio sector, one of the three major game-changer technologies, to inspect infrastructures such as biofoundries. The government plans to nurture the advanced bio industry, which combines digital technology and biology, as a next-generation leading industry.
On the 29th, Minister Yu visited the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, examining the research sites and holding a meeting with experts from academia, industry, and research in the advanced bio sector. The meeting was organized to express the government’s commitment to fostering the advanced bio sector as a future game-changer and to gather opinions from academia, industry, and research to enter the top five global bio powers.
In April, the government announced initiatives for the three game-changer technologies: advanced bio, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum technology. The government intends to cultivate the advanced bio industry as the next leading industry, following semiconductors, by leveraging accumulated bio technology capabilities, data, and world-class digital and manufacturing capabilities. In the coming month, the government plans to consolidate strengths from both public and private sectors across the bio field with the launch of the “National Bio Committee” directly under the President’s office, laying the groundwork for ascending to a top five global bio power.
The National Biofoundry beta facility visited by Minister Yu is an infrastructure for synthetic biology pre-research created in collaboration with KAIST since 2021. It has contributed to strengthening research capabilities in synthetic biology. The government plans to formally establish a public biofoundry next year to secure national bio-manufacturing innovation capabilities.
The biofoundry infrastructure project, which integrates digital technologies like AI and robotics to standardize, automate, and accelerate synthetic biology research processes, passed the preliminary feasibility study. It will be executed over five years starting next year, with a total budget of 126.3 billion won.
The meeting that followed included experts from companies, universities, and research institutes in the advanced bio sector, along with Minister Yu. Topics discussed included paradigm shifts from the convergence of digital, robotic, and bio technologies; strategies for technology commercialization collaboration between research institutes and companies in the bio sector; support strategies for collaborative research to quickly respond to emerging and re-emerging viral diseases; and strategies to enhance global research collaboration with leading bio countries. These discussions addressed the government’s support direction and improvements for strengthening advanced bio competitiveness.
Minister Yu stated, “Advanced bio accelerates innovation across all fields, including traditional life sciences and healthcare, as well as energy, materials, food, and the environment, becoming the key to solving human challenges. We will gather national capabilities to support and nurture the advanced bio sector at the heart of the national economy, security, and industry, based on the advice of numerous experts.”