[New Year's Message] Go Han-seung, President of the Bio Association, "We Will Strive for Collaboration and Mutual Growth"

Goh Han-seung Reappointed as Chairman of the Bio Association

Ko Han-seung, Chairman of the Korea Bio Association, is speaking at the "White Bio Alliance Cooperation Council Inauguration Ceremony" held on April 2, 2021, at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Myunghwan Lee] Koh Han-seung, Chairman of the Korea Bio Association, announced on the 27th that "we will continue to strive this year for integrated collaboration and mutual growth across the entire bio industry" to mark the new year.

In his New Year's address, Chairman Koh stated, "I want to applaud our bio industry, which has steadfastly overcome the long-lasting COVID-19 crisis over the past two years with a spirit of 'solidarity and cooperation'." As the President of Samsung Bioepis, he was reappointed on the 20th as the 8th Chairman of the Korea Bio Association.

The Bio Association set strengthening collaboration and mutual growth among member companies as its goal for the new year. Chairman Koh pledged, "This year's key theme for the association is integrated collaboration and mutual growth within the bio industry. We will support the industry to lead true open innovation through convergence and cooperation among large corporations, mid-sized companies, startups, and across red, white, green, and fusion bio sectors."

Specifically, to enhance communication, he explained that the association will reflect the difficulties faced by venture companies located in various regions through affiliated councils such as the Genome Companies Council, In Vitro Diagnostics Companies Council, Materials-Parts-Equipment Cooperation Council, and White Bio Council. He also emphasized seeking solutions through communication from local governments to government ministries.

He also expressed a strong commitment to building a bio ecosystem. Chairman Koh diagnosed, "Under the global economic downturn, exports are decreasing while the high exchange rate trend is maintained. Especially in the bio industry, the macroeconomic turbulence has led to difficulties in capital circulation due to clinical trial suspensions and workforce reductions linked to challenges in the stock market and investment cooling."

He continued, "The association will actively support multinational pharmaceutical collaborations (open innovation), connections with domestic and international funds (investment attraction), and growth support from startups to mid-sized companies (ecosystem building) to facilitate corporate capital circulation."

He also promised to promote the domestic bio industry overseas. Chairman Koh said, "Through programs operated by the association such as 'Venture Playground,' a startup investment attraction support program, 'Global Mingle' for cooperation with overseas companies and overseas investment attraction and promotion, and hosting international bio conventions like 'BioPlus Interphex Korea,' we will work to raise awareness of the bio industry in overseas markets."