Hwasun-gun Accelerates Efforts to Attract K-Bio Lab Hub Construction Project

[Hwasun=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Ji-woon] Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gu Chung-gon) has submitted a letter of intent to host the ‘K-Bio Lab Hub Construction Project’ candidate site contest organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and is accelerating its efforts to attract the project.

According to the county on the 3rd, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups began the call for candidate sites for the K-Bio Lab Hub Construction Project, which aims to establish a support base for bio new drug development startup companies, on the 12th of last month.

This project is a large-scale national project with a total budget of 335 billion KRW, including 250 billion KRW in national funds and local government funds.

The core of the K-Bio Lab Hub Construction Project is to build and operate infrastructure that supports startup residency spaces, shared equipment, and new drug development, fostering and supporting startup companies developing new drugs such as therapeutics and vaccines.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to receive detailed project plans by the 14th, conduct on-site evaluations this month, and select one project site next month.

If selected as the project site, facilities such as startup company residency spaces, community spaces, about 300 types of core research and shared equipment, animal testing facilities, biosafety research facilities (BL-3, ABSL-3), GMP production facilities, and biochemical waste treatment facilities will be established.

It will also create a foundation that supports research and development facilities and equipment for startup preparation companies and provides one-stop support for analysis, testing, and manufacturing needed from candidate substance discovery to preclinical stages using specialized personnel.

It is also noteworthy that it will serve as an open innovation hub through clinical stage collaboration support with domestic and international pharmaceutical companies and hospitals.

The county plans to highlight its greatest advantage as the only vaccine special zone nationwide, equipped with a foundation that can provide one-stop support for all stages including research and development, preclinical, clinical, contract manufacturing, and certification support for new drug development.

Earlier, on the 2nd, the county devoted all efforts to attracting the project by securing a financial burden commitment from the county council and obtaining signatures for support at the council level.

Governor Gu Chung-gon said, “It is essential to attract the K-Bio Lab Hub Construction Project to further advance the existing industrial base of the Hwasun Vaccine Industry Special Zone and to promote research and development, technology startups, and company attraction,” adding, “Active support and participation from the residents are necessary for the successful attraction of the K-Bio Lab Hub, so please actively participate in the signature campaign.”