Launch of Support Foundation for Training Vaccine and Bio Personnel in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Launch of the Global Bio Talent Development Hub Support Foundation

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it held the launch ceremony of the 'Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing Support Foundation (GTHB-SF)' at Yonsei University International Campus located in Songdo, Incheon.

Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially designated South Korea as the world's only 'Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing' in February 2022 to strengthen the vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities of bio workforce in low- and middle-income countries.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has collaborated with WHO, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), and others to train 754 bio production personnel from low- and middle-income countries in 2022 (559 in-person trainees from 43 countries, 195 online trainees), and 1,187 in 2023 (554 in-person trainees from 54 countries, 633 online trainees), striving to enhance each country's vaccine self-sufficiency capabilities.

In the third year of the training hub, this year, to achieve the pledged goal of educating more than 2,000 people annually to the international community, a dedicated training facility called the 'Global Bio Campus' is being established in Songdo, Incheon by the end of the year. Additionally, a private-led Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing Support Foundation is being established to efficiently operate this facility and accelerate systematic bio workforce training.

The support foundation is a non-profit foundation established in May with the approval of the Minister of Health and Welfare, and it plans to serve as a core organization supporting the training hub and as a collaborative partner with international organizations including WHO.

Moreover, led by the support foundation, collaboration will be conducted with five institutions designated as regional campuses of the Global Bio Campus (Yonsei University K-NIBRT, Seoul National University Siheung Campus, Osong K-Bio, Andong Animal Cell Validation Support Center, Hwasun Biopharmaceutical Research Center). In addition to the existing basic theory and practical courses necessary for vaccine and biopharmaceutical production, they plan to develop various educational programs such as ▲advanced courses, instructor training courses, internships linked with domestic companies, university-linked degree programs, ▲policy consulting tailored to the diverse production capacities and infrastructures of low- and middle-income countries, and ▲customized education considering trainees' needs such as online education.

The launch ceremony was attended by Jicui Dong, WHO's Regional Production Officer in charge of the training hub, representatives from the five network campuses, the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), SK Bioscience, and other institutions forming the board of directors of the support foundation.

Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in his congratulatory speech, urged, "The support foundation should play a role in strengthening Korea's global status and laying the foundation for becoming a leading bio-industry country by providing high-quality education for vaccine self-sufficiency in low- and middle-income countries," and requested, "The international community including WHO should promote, show interest, and provide financial support so that more personnel can participate in the training hub education."

No Yeon-hong, chairman of the support foundation, stated, "We will faithfully carry out the construction of the Global Bio Campus and training projects to strengthen global infectious disease response capabilities and contribute to Korea playing a leading role in the global health security field."