In 2022, Korea founded the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing (GTH-B) with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The GTH-B's initiatives are part of a broader effort to support low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in developing self-sustainable vaccine production capabilities and preparing for future pandemics and global health crises.

The hub has already provided a range of training programs on vaccine and biologics production to almost 1,000 industry professionals from LMICs.

During a networking luncheon session with GTH-B at World Bio Summit 2023 in Seoul, Hwang Seung-hyun, the Director General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's (MOHW) Global Vaccine Hub Office, outlined the progress and plans of GTH-B.

"The GTH-B has conducted various courses in 2022 and 2023, imparting knowledge and skills in vaccine and biologics manufacturing to 816 participants worldwide," Hwang said. "The training sessions have been organized in collaboration with multiple partners, reflecting a strong commitment to capacity building in the biomanufacturing sector."

Furthermore, the GTH-B plans to extend its training programs, adapting to the needs of trainees from different regions, such as Asia-Pacific, South America, and Africa, Hwang added.

Hwang stressed that the feedback from these training programs has been overwhelmingly positive, showcasing the effectiveness of the GTH-B's approach.

During his presentation, Hwang also presented the future strategies of the GTH-B, which include enhancing training facilities and developing comprehensive curriculums for bio-processing.

"These efforts aim to provide not only hands-on training but also theoretical knowledge, thereby equipping the workforce with the necessary competencies to advance the biomanufacturing industry globally," he said.

During the event, the MOHW presented awards to notable partners who helped GTH-B celebrate another successful year.

The partners included the International Vaccine Institution (IVI), Asian Development Bank, and the Kenya Medical Research Institute.

In his award acceptance speech, IVI Director General Jerome Kim said, "The IVI is honored to be able to participate with the MOHW and the World Health Organization as a part of the GTH-B."

The IVI considers this to be a critical element of capacity building and human resource development in countries around the world and helps everyone to achieve vaccine security, Kim added.