Johns Hopkins to host US-Korea biotechnology forum in Songdo

The Johns Hopkins Global Biotechnology Innovation Summit will be held in Songdo, Incheon, Thursday. Courtesy of Incheon Free Economic Zone

Johns Hopkins University in the United States will host a bio forum in Incheon on Thursday, seeking ways for government agencies, companies and scholars in Korea and the U.S. to collaborate on the future of the bio industry.

The prestigious university in Baltimore, Md., will launch the “Johns Hopkins Global Biotechnology Innovation Summit” in Songdo, Incheon. The forum will explore how to apply biotechnology to global industries through bilateral cooperation.

Core topics include organoids and micro-physiological systems, AI-based drug development, high-precision medical research, biomanufacturing and industrialization, global models for industry–academia–research collaboration and investment strategies for bio startups.

Faculty members from Johns Hopkins, Harvard University and the University of Cambridge will join the forum. Heads of state-run research institutes, senior executives from global pharmaceutical and biotech firms and representatives from venture capital companies will also attend.

The forum is jointly organized by Korean government agencies, including the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology and the Korea Basic Science Institute. Academic and research partners include Yonsei University, Incheon National University, Pohang University of Science and Technology, the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association and K-BioLabHub.

Industry leaders will also share their expertise. Officials from Samsung Biologics, DreamCIS and U.S.-based Curi Bio will present their latest organoid-based services for contract research organizations, while Celltrion will highlight its global collaborations for new drug development.

“This event will serve as an important turning point for Songdo to emerge as a global bio innovation hub,” IFEZ Commissioner Yun Won-sok said.

“IFEZ will actively support the creation of a bio industry ecosystem that links research and development to industrialization and global expansion through cooperation with world-class research institutions, global companies and industry associations.”

Kim Deok-ho, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, said the summit will go beyond simple academic exchange to serve as a practical platform that connects biotechnology with real-world industries and global markets.