Designation of the 'Gukga Cheomdan Uiryo Bokhap Danji' Gains Momentum
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province has succeeded in attracting the ‘National Immunotherapy Platform,’ which will serve as the national control tower for next-generation therapeutic vaccines for intractable diseases such as cancer and dementia.
Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok announced on the 1st that Jeonnam was finally selected in the ‘National Immunotherapy Platform’ public contest project hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Accordingly, the vision of Governor Kim in the 7th local government term to realize ‘Blue Bio, Jeonnam’ is expected to gain further momentum.
Governor Kim said, “The immunotherapy industry is facing fierce competition among countries to dominate the massive global market worth 165 trillion won, centered on advanced countries such as the United States and Japan, amid a recent surge in intractable diseases due to ultra-aging.” He added, “Through this project, Korea will proudly join the global competition for the development and commercialization of immunotherapeutics, centered on the Hwasun Vaccine Industrial Complex.”
He continued, “This project is very meaningful as Jeonnam was the first in the nation to plan it in 2017, and through continuous efforts to persuade the government and secure the budget, it was reflected in this year’s government budget and adopted as a national project.”
The ‘National Immunotherapy Platform’ will invest a total of 46 billion won, including 23 billion won in national funds, to establish a center within Hwasun Jeonnam National University Hospital by 2021.
More than 70 immunotherapy experts and 17 leading domestic universities, companies, and general hospitals will participate.
The participating institutions include Jeonnam National University, GIST, POSTECH, Hwasun Jeonnam National University Hospital, Samsung Seoul Hospital, and BACSIL BIO Co., Ltd., among Korea’s top immunotherapy specialized institutions and companies, and the project will be promoted through expert collaboration (open innovation).
Prior to this, since last year, the province has proactively invested a total of 20 billion won, including national funds, to build four immunocyte therapeutic production facilities equipped with essential equipment and facilities that are difficult for immunotherapy venture companies to establish, to support venture startups, new drug development, and commercialization, with construction scheduled to begin this year. When linked with the newly attracted ‘National Immunotherapy Platform,’ a total of 66 billion won will be invested, expected to create significant synergy.
In particular, the ‘National Immunotherapy Platform’ is expected to play a key role in the regional economy.
The province anticipates that this project will contribute greatly to the localization of anticancer immunotherapeutics and new drug development, including attracting 30 immunotherapy-related companies and creating over 1,100 jobs.
Additionally, it is expected to signal a green light for the designation of the large-scale national project ‘Advanced Medical Complex.’
Governor Kim stated, “By 2027, we will invest a total of 246 billion won in nine projects, including the Smart Clinical Support System (25 billion won, Ministry of Health and Welfare) and Microbiome-based Immune Control System (25 billion won, Ministry of Science and ICT), to steadily implement the three-stage comprehensive immunotherapy plan and attract the national advanced medical complex to Jeonnam.”
Jeonnam Province is currently conducting a feasibility study for the establishment of the advanced medical complex and is requesting designation from the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the National Assembly. The designation application will be submitted to the Ministry of Health and Welfare by the end of this year.
Governor Kim said, “Just as Jeonnam wisely overcame the ‘COVID-19’ crisis, the attraction of the ‘National Immunotherapy Platform’ is the fruit of continuous efforts to respond to the advanced bioindustry with solid research capabilities and long-term vision,” adding, “Based on the ‘National Immunotherapy Platform,’ we will change the bioindustry map of Jeonnam.”
Meanwhile, Jeollanam-do has already completed land acquisition and conceptual design for the site where the National Immunotherapy Platform will be established. To ensure early completion and successful operation of the center, an expert task force has been formed, aiming to complete detailed design early and begin construction within this year, targeting completion by next year.
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