Ministry of Health and Welfare Signs 710 Billion Won Investment MOU with Roche

Attracting Global Clinical Trials in Advanced Biopharmaceuticals
and Fostering R&D Professionals

The Ministry of Health and Welfare signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Roche, a global bio company headquartered in Switzerland, at Banyan Tree Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on March 3, 2026, to strengthen the global competitiveness of Korea's biohealth industry.

This MOU aims to share Roche's global research and development (R&D) network and experience in market expansion with Korea's pharmaceutical and bio R&D ecosystem, based on Korea's promising drug pipelines and competitive clinical trials. The two sides also plan to collaborate in attracting clinical trials and in the field of open innovation. Through this partnership, Korea is expected to further solidify its position as a strategic global clinical trial hub in Asia.

Over the next five years, Roche plans to invest a total of 710 billion won to: ▲ attract global clinical trials in the fields of common and intractable diseases as well as advanced biopharmaceuticals to Korea, ▲ foster R&D professionals, and ▲ support the discovery and rapid growth of promising domestic biohealth companies through open innovation initiatives.

In addition, both parties agreed to strengthen the industrial ecosystem to attract more global clinical trials, expand the global R&D network, and actively support domestic biohealth companies in entering global markets.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chung Eun-kyung said, "We expect this MOU to serve as an opportunity to advance Korea's clinical trial competitiveness and support the rapid growth and global expansion of promising domestic biohealth companies." She also added, "We will continue to create more opportunities to collaborate with global pharmaceutical companies in the future."

J?rg Luft, Head of Region at Roche Pharma International, stated, "We believe this collaboration with the Korean government will maximize synergies between the two sides and serve as a catalyst for fundamentally enhancing the core competitiveness of Korea's biohealth industry." He added, "Based on this partnership, Roche will continue its efforts for a healthier future for humanity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.