[Today Newspaper] “Breaking Down Barriers to Communication” — K-BioX Brings Together Top Bio Talent

[On-Site Report] Industry, Academia, Research Institutions, and Students Gather for Cross-Sector Exchange

• Knowledge shared across stem cell research, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and other fields
• Participants voice shared concerns over Korea’s relatively closed open-innovation ecosystem
• R&D leaders from pharmaceutical and biotech companies share the talent and capabilities they seek

The 2024 YUCM KAMC K-BioX SUMMIT 2, jointly hosted by Yonsei University College of Medicine (YUCM) and the Korean Association of Medical Colleges (KAMC) and organized by K-BioX, was held at 9 a.m. on the 18th at the Eunmyung Auditorium of Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seoul. (Photo courtesy of K-BioX)

[Today Newspaper Reporter Kang Hyun-min] Future leaders of the biotechnology industry gathered in one place to exchange ideas, research findings, and perspectives across academia, industry, and the student community.

The 2024 YUCM KAMC K-BioX SUMMIT 2 brought together a total of 752 participants from 284 institutions across seven countries, according to the organizers.

K-BioX was established in 2016 by researchers affiliated with Stanford Bio-X with the goal of fostering collaborative research. The network promotes knowledge exchange among Korean scientists worldwide and serves as a bridge connecting participants across career stages, from high school and university students to graduate students, researchers, professors, and industry professionals.

In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Jiwon Oh of the Department of Anatomy at Yonsei University College of Medicine said, “I hope mentors with doctoral-level expertise and beyond will provide meaningful guidance to the next generation of students. I also encourage undergraduate and graduate students to ask questions freely and take away as much as possible from today’s event.”

The event, held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., featured a wide range of programs spanning the biomedical sciences. Eight sessions were organized across four main tracks: academia, industry, poster presentations, and mentoring.

The academic sessions covered diverse topics including bioinformatics, stem cell research, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and data platforms.

Speakers in the bioinformatics session included Prof. Jun-Il Kim of Soongsil University, Prof. Hyeshik Chang of Seoul National University, Sang-Yoon Lee, CEO of WITGEN, Dae-Seung Lee, CEO of Portrai, and Prof. Dong-Sung Lee of the University of Seoul.

The stem cell session featured Prof. Ki-Hyuk Kwak of Yonsei University College of Medicine, Prof. Sang-Jin Lee of the University of Hong Kong, Il-Ho Jang, CEO of STEMDEN, Prof. Ssang-Goo Cho of Konkuk University, and Prof. Se-Gyu Choi of POSTECH.

Additional sessions on neuroscience and artificial intelligence featured Prof. Hyung-Jin Choi of Seoul National University College of Medicine and Prof. Hyung Kim of Seoul National University’s School of Biological Sciences.

Representatives from sponsoring organizations also participated, including Il-Doo Jung, CEO of Iris Lab; Hee-Jung Chun of Woojung Bio; Min-Seok Seo of GemPharmatech; and Hyun-Jae Park of CDD Vault.

The information-sharing sessions featured presentations from academia and industry on a wide range of topics, including bioinformatics, stem cell research, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and data platforms. (Photo courtesy of K-BioX)

A panel discussion featuring executives from major Korean pharmaceutical companies was also held. Yuhan Corporation President and Head of R&D Yeol-Hong Kim, Dong-A ST President Jae-Hong Park, and Daewoong Pharmaceutical CEO Seung-Ho Jeon participated as panelists, with SK Biopharmaceuticals Vice President Sun-Kwan Hwang serving as moderator.

The panelists introduced their companies’ current open innovation initiatives and future strategies, followed by a discussion with the audience.

During the Q&A session, one audience member raised concerns that Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech industry remains relatively closed when it comes to open innovation.

Responding to the comment, Yuhan Corporation’s Yeol-Hong Kim said, “Open innovation still seems to be relatively unfamiliar in Korea. One reason it works more effectively overseas is that clear frameworks are already in place regarding research-related compensation, security, and the boundaries within which information can be shared.”

A panel discussion was also held with executives from leading Korean pharmaceutical companies. From left: Sun-Kwan Hwang, Vice President of SK Biopharmaceuticals; Yeol-Hong Kim, President and Head of R&D at Yuhan Corporation; Jae-Hong Park, President of Dong-A ST; and Seung-Ho Jeon, CEO of Daewoong Pharmaceutical. (Photo courtesy of K-BioX)

Jae-Hong Park of Dong-A ST noted that Korea already has a large number of bio clusters—enough that there may be little need to create more—but communication among them remains insufficient. He emphasized the need to build greater trust and confidence across the ecosystem.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical CEO Seung-Ho Jeon pointed to Boston in the United States, where the city itself functions as a major bio cluster and researchers communicate on an ongoing basis. He stressed that Korea should further expand and activate networking opportunities that encourage continuous exchange among researchers and industry professionals.

Participants at the 2024 YUCM KAMC K-BioX SUMMIT 2 review academic research and review posters displayed outside the main event hall. (Photo courtesy of K-BioX)

Throughout the event, authors of approximately 40 posters displayed in the lobby were invited to the stage for a “30-Second Viral Talk,” giving each presenter 30 seconds to introduce and promote their research to the audience.

A subsequent panel discussion featured R&D leaders from Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech industries, including Chul-Woong Jung, CTO of LegoChem Biosciences; Byung-Ho Kim, Head of the C&C Research Laboratories at JW Pharmaceutical; and Byung-Yong Kim, Head of R&D at Chong Kun Dang HealthCare. The panelists exchanged views and answered questions from participants.

With many undergraduate and graduate students in the audience, one question that drew particular attention focused on the qualities each company looks for in research talent.

Byung-Yong Kim of Chong Kun Dang HealthCare said, “The first thing we look for is energy. Academic grades and publications are important, but we pay even closer attention to signs of genuine passion that can be seen in a candidate’s résumé. Participating in an event like this, for example, could certainly make an impression.”

Byung-Ho Kim of JW Pharmaceutical’s C&C Research Laboratories emphasized integrity as a fundamental quality for researchers, while Chul-Woong Jung of LegoChem Biosciences highlighted the importance of determination and perseverance in pursuing new drug development despite repeated setbacks.

Toward the end of the summit, a poster session featuring participants ranging from high school students to undergraduate and graduate students was held alongside mentoring sessions where younger researchers could receive direct advice from experienced scientists. The mentoring program was divided into three tracks: industry careers, graduate school, and overseas study.

Following the official program, a VIP networking reception was held at a nearby restaurant, giving participants an opportunity for informal conversation and further networking.

Participants at the 2024 YUCM KAMC K-BioX SUMMIT 2 take part in field-specific mentoring sessions, receiving guidance from senior scientists. (Photo courtesy of K-BioX)

Following the event, Dr. Si-Yeon Lee, Representative Executive Committee Member of K-BioX, told Today Newspaper that K-BioX’s goal is to build a strong communication network connecting all stakeholders in the life sciences, including academia, industry, research institutions, senior scientists, and aspiring researchers.

She noted that at previous K-BioX summits, some of the most popular programs were those that enabled participants to interact directly with professionals from academia and industry, including mentoring sessions, coffee chats, and evening networking events.

“This event attracted more participants than we expected,” Lee said. “I believe this is because K-BioX is driven not by the idea of individual success, but by the spirit of Anteambulo—helping and supporting one another so that we can all grow together.”

K-BioX plans to hold another summit in San Francisco in June, focusing on bio startups and collaborating with 82 Startup, a nonprofit Korean startup community based in Silicon Valley. The organization is also considering holding another summit in Korea in November.

[Source: K-BioX]