Over the past two years, terms like virus, bacteria, vaccine, bio, and microbiome have become household words both here and abroad. So it seems timely for the nation to host an international industrial expo to turn these areas into new industries of the post-Covid-19 era.
“The 2022 International Virus and Bacteria Industry Expo (ViBac 2022)” will open its two-day run in COEX, southern Seoul, from July 18-19, its organizers said Monday.
Co-organized by the Korea Exhibition Company (KOECO) and Makers Union, it will be the first international event related to the virus and bacteria industry.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government, Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Korean Hospital Association, Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, Korea Pharmaceutical Trade Association, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, and Korea Beauty Industry Trade Association (KOBITA) will sponsor the event.
ViBac 2022 will comprise diagnosis and quarantine, microbiological food and drink, biopharmaceutical, microbiome cosmetic, and research and development.
The exhibition has already attracted 80 companies using 200 booths, and organizers expect to draw 7,000-10,000 visitors during the fair.
"The outbreak of Covid-19 and the continuation of the pandemic have provided an opportunity to view the virus- and bacteria-related industries as a new growth engine," a Makers Union official said. "By holding the world's first industrial expo for virus and bacteria in Korea, which has already coined the word 'K-Quarantine' over the past two years, we want to lead in developing related industries and expanding into related sectors."
Notably, through the expo, the organizers plan to develop and promote exhibitions and expositions of world virus and bacteria-related industries centering on Korea, pioneer global marketplaces for virus and bacteria-related new drugs, products, and devices, discover new major industries related to domestic viruses and bacteria, increase exports and international trade promotion, motivate biopharmaceutical and device technology development and attract investment, and develop microbiome-related cosmetics and pharmaceutical technology.
The expo will also hold side events, such as the Microbiome International Symposium and the In Vitro Diagnostic Society seminar during the expo.
"As the Covid-19 pandemic enters its second year, people's daily lives around the world have changed to 'new normal,'" the Makers Union official said. "This is not a simple trend change, but a process in which the paradigm of all industries related to human life is newly established."
Through ViBac 2022, the organizers aim to establish a new concept for viruses and bacteria and provide a stepping stone for discovering and developing this field as a new and sustainable industry.