[Photo News] 2023 BIO International Convention rekindling success as attendees flock back after Covid-19 pandemic

2023-06-06     Lee Han-soo

BOSTON, Mass. – By Lee Han-soo/Korea Biomedical Review correspondent – After a prolonged period of uncertainty and disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the biotechnology industry is experiencing a remarkable resurgence.

The 2023 BIO International Convention kicked off its four-day run at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusets, on Monday (local time).

The 2023 BIO International Convention kicked off its four-day run at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center on Monday (local time), in Boston, Mass.

Organized by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), this year's event will bring together more than 4,000 companies from 85 countries and around 14,000 attendees for a variety of business meetings and conferences.

This year’s BIO convention also shows Korea’s strong commitment and interest in the bio-field because President Yoon Suk Yeol set the bioindustry as the next major national growth engine and promised to support exports and ease regulations.

Reflecting such sentiment, the number of Korean companies and organizations participating in the BIO International Convention this year more than doubled from last year.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, there were 544 participating companies this year, compared to 255 last year.

Major Korean companies (Samsung Biologics, Celltrion, Lotte Biologics, ST Pharm), smaller bio ventures (ABL Bio, CHA Biotech, Aptabio Therapeutics, Eubiologics, Prestige Biopharma, HLB), and hospitals (Seoul National University Hospital and Asan Medical Center) all joined BIO 2023. 

Korean companies expressed their high expectations for significant achievements during the event. Their goals include making deals with multinational pharmaceutical companies or signing new contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) agreements.

2023 BIO International Convention attendees wait in line to receive their badges.

 

Samsung Biologics had the biggest individual booth among Korean companies. The company stressed that this year it focused on sustainability, and all materials for the booth were made of eco-friendly materials such as wood, stone, cloth, and recycled materials, minimizing the use of plastic.

 

Celltrion booth at 2023 BIO International Convention. This year, the company plans to focus on expanding its global network through strengthened partnerships as the company looks to expand its global footprint.

 

Other Korea companies, including Lotte Biologics, Huons Global, and Prestige Biopharma also had booths on the convention floor.

 

Korea Pavilion, run by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and the Korea BIO, featured 15 companies, including Kangstem Biotech, Net Targets, Medica Korea, Medific, Mepsgen, Binex, and Biotoxtech.

 

The conventional also featured numerous pavilions formed by companies from various countries. From the top are Japan, Germany, U.K., Italy, EU, Australia, France,  Argentina, and the UAE. 

 

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