What Korea New Drug Research Association does

Korea New Drug Research Association (KDRA) is a non-profit special corporation established in 1986 under the Industrial Technology Research Association Promotion Act and supervised by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Headquartered in Seoul, it functions as the principal industry-wide coordination body for South Korea's pharmaceutical and biotech R&D sector, with a 7-person secretariat supporting 177 member organizations across five research societies, three specialized centers, an investment consortium, and a technology business center.

Its operational stack spans four layers: (1) industry coordination through research societies and member forums; (2) professional training, with 16,550+ professionals trained since 2009 via the Human Resources Development Center established in 2022; (3) clinical-research infrastructure via the Korean Society for Clinical Research Materials (KSCRM, 2023) and the Drug Big-data Innovation Center (DBIC, 2024); and (4) capital deployment via the InvestBio member consortium (2023) and a technology business center.

KDRA's revenue model is not publicly disclosed and is built on membership fees, training-program revenue, consulting, and event fees, with potential supplementary MSIT-aligned government support. Strategic priorities evidenced in 2022-2025 include internationalization (MOUs with India's Pharmexcil and Ajou University), formalization of training and clinical-research product lines, and establishment of data infrastructure for AI/big-data enabled drug discovery.

Name

Korea New Drug Research Association

Legal name

한국신약개발연구조합 (Korea Drug Research Association)

Website

https://kdra.or.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Korea New Drug Research Association (KDRA) is a Seoul-based, MSIT-supervised non-profit industry association coordinating R&D, training, and clinical-research infrastructure for 177 Korean pharmaceutical and biotech member organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Industry Association and Biohealth Coordination Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Life Sciences & Biotechnology Congresses (THAHAJAB)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical industry association
• Biotechnology consortium services
• Drug development coordination
• Technology transfer facilitation
• Biohealth professional training

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Fees: Member companies pay annual dues to join KDRA and access its network, platforms, and services. Member companies span pharmaceutical firms, biotech companies, startups, universities, and research institutions. Specific fee tiers vary by member type.
2. Professional Training and Education Programs: KDRA Bio Health HRD Center runs paid professional development programs in R&D strategy, regulatory affairs, clinical development, IP management, and AI-driven drug discovery. Programs charge per attendee, with differentiated rates for member vs. non-member companies (e.g., 300,000–550,000 KRW per person per program).
3. Consulting Services (R&D and Clinical Development Strategy): Provides R&D and clinical development strategy consulting services to member companies through partner organizations such as Medirama and BX Plant. Services are offered at subsidized rates (e.g., 300,000 KRW per 90-minute session).
4. Event Registration Fees: Revenue generated from paid conferences and forums including the InterBiz Bio Partnering & Investment Forum, the KOREA LIFE SCIENCE WEEK, and various specialized seminars and symposiums organized by KDRA's research societies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KDRA is a non-profit consortium that coordinates Korea's research-driven pharmaceutical and biohealth industry by operating a member-based platform of services. Its core offerings include technology transaction facilitation through the PharmaTech Business Center (PTBC), professional training programs via the Bio Health HRD Center, open innovation and investment facilitation through the InvestBio consortium, policy research via InnoPol, AI/big data support via DBIC, and five specialized research societies covering APIs, pharmaceutical analysis, natural product development, business development, and microneedle systems. It also hosts the annual InterBiz Bio Partnering & Investment Forum as Korea's premier biohealth deal-making event.

Product overview

Korea New Drug Research Association (KDRA) is a special corporation established in 1986 under the Industrial Technology Research Association Promotion Act, serving as the representative organization for research-driven pharmaceutical/biotech companies in Korea. KDRA operates a platform of interconnected services and professional communities rather than a single product. The core platform consists of five main centers: the PharmaTech Business Center (PTBC) for technology trading and licensing, the Innovation Policy Research Center (InnoPol) for policy research, the Bio Health HRD Center for professional training, the InvestBio consortium for venture investment facilitation, and the Digital Biohealth Innovation Council (DBIC) for AI/big data integration. Supporting these centers are five professional research societies covering APIs, pharmaceutical analysis, natural products, business development, and microneedle systems. Additionally, KDRA operates the prestigious Korea New Drug Award (KNDA), publishes annual New Drug Development Posters, and issues the weekly GREEN CANVAS newsletter. With approximately 177 member organizations including pharmaceutical companies, biotech ventures, universities, and research institutes, KDRA serves as the central hub for open innovation, policy advocacy, talent development, and industry collaboration in Korea's bio-health sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PharmaTech Business Center (PTBC) A technology trading center facilitating licensing, technology transfer, joint research, and technology investment for member companies. Designated by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy as Korea's pharmaceutical technology trading institution. Reviews approximately 300 technology items annually through its technology evaluation committee, comprising 94 member companies and 155 committee members as of 2026. Has published 9 volumes of overseas partner licensing/collaboration technology data books for member companies.
• Innovation Policy Research Center (InnoPol) A policy research center that develops policy alternatives for bio-health industry support, conducts industrial analysis, and provides recommendations on regulations, taxation, and R&D support systems for member companies and government stakeholders.
• KDRA Bio Health HRD Center Provides professional training programs covering R&D/IP strategy, clinical development, regulatory affairs, CMC/quality control, business development, R&D planning, startup support, and AI/big data applications for drug development. Programs are delivered online via real-time Zoom and in-person at partner university venues. Has trained 16,550+ professionals since 2009, with differentiated pricing for member vs. non-member companies (300,000–550,000 KRW per person per program).
• InvestBio Korea Bio-Health Investment Consortium An open innovation investment platform connecting promising bioventure companies and startups with domestic pharmaceutical/biotech companies and investment institutions across Korea. Facilitates university-industry collaboration and connects startups with investment institutions through regular investment forums and online matching.
• Digital Biohealth Innovation Council (DBIC) Supports the biohealth industry through AI and big data technology integration, provides full-cycle support platforms, and facilitates collaboration between biohealth and ICT/digital platform industries.
• InterBiz Bio Partnering & Investment Forum Annual flagship biohealth partnering and investment forum organized by KDRA. Attracts approximately 660 companies/institutions and 2,300+ attendees annually over the past 5 years (2021–2025). Provides exhibitor booths, partnering meeting scheduling, company presentations, and networking sessions for pharma companies, biotech startups, investors, and research institutions.
• R&D and Clinical Development Consulting Services Provides R&D and clinical development strategy consulting to member companies through partner organizations such as Medirama (300,000 KRW per 90-minute session) and BX Plant (free 60-minute sessions for member companies). Services are offered online or in-person at subsidized rates for member companies.
• Korea New Drug Development Award (KNDA) An industry award program established in 1999 to honor pharmaceutical companies that have successfully developed globally novel drugs (compound new drugs, bio-drugs, natural product drugs) or achieved significant technology exports. Co-sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Maeil Business Newspaper.

Quantifiable outcome

• 177 member organizations across pharma, biotech, startups, universities, and research institutions coordinated under one consortium
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered key, core and flagship.

• Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil), IndiakeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 March 2026KDRA and Pharmexcil (India's government-backed pharmaceutical export promotion council) signed a mutual cooperation MOU on March 31, 2026. The agreement aims to promote cooperation between Korean and Indian pharmaceutical companies, facilitate technology and trade exchange, and support international market access for member companies of both organizations. The signing took place at Kintex, Ilsan, during a major industry exhibition.
• Ajou UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026KDRA and Ajou University signed an MOU on February 27, 2026. The partnership focuses on joint initiatives in biohealth workforce development, collaborative research, and academic-industry cooperation. Ajou University's RISE (Research Institute for Innovative Drug Development) center is a key partner in KDRA's professional training programs, co-organizing several educational courses including the Global Technology Commercialization Academy.
• InterBiz Bio Partnering & Investment ForumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKDRA organizes the InterBiz Bio Partnering & Investment Forum as its flagship annual platform for biohealth deal-making. The forum is a key mechanism through which KDRA connects pharmaceutical companies, biotech startups, and investors. Over the past 5 years (2021–2025), the forum has attracted an annual average of approximately 660 companies/institutions and 2,300+ attendees. KDRA is listed as a founding/organizing entity alongside partner organizations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA): The U.S. innovative-pharma industry association representing the largest global R&D pharma companies. PhRMA serves as a policy advocate, lobbying entity, and platform for member services — analogous in function to KDRA but at much larger scale and U.S. policy context.
• European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA): Europe's leading pharma industry association representing R&D-driven companies across the EU. Comparable to KDRA in mission (policy advocacy, R&D ecosystem coordination, partnering events), but at multi-country, multi-stakeholder scale.
• Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO): The largest U.S. biotech trade association, running BIO International Convention — the world's largest biohealth partnering forum. Directly comparable to KDRA's InterBiz model in offering a flagship annual partnering event, but at global scale and spanning the full biotech stack.
• International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA): Global umbrella pharma industry body representing R&D-driven companies and national associations including those functionally equivalent to KDRA. Comparable as the apex-level coordinating body, though IFPMA operates at international rather than national industry-coordination scope.

Regional players

• Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA): Japan's principal innovative-pharma industry association covering R&D-oriented drug makers. Functionally comparable to KDRA in member composition and policy advocacy, with a similar subscription/event/training revenue model, but operating in the Japanese regulatory environment.
• China Pharmaceutical Industry Association (CPIA): China's national pharmaceutical industry association under government supervision. Operates with a comparable mandate of industry coordination, policy advocacy, and member services for Chinese pharma companies, paralleling KDRA's role in Korea.

Direct peers

• Korea Pharmaceutical Association (KPA): The statutory pharmacists' and pharmacy-industry association in Korea. While KPA focuses on distribution, pharmacy practice, and reimbursement policy, KDRA focuses on R&D-driven pharma — together they form the two main industry-shaping bodies in Korean pharmaceuticals.
• KoreaBIO (Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization): Korea's other major biotech industry association, representing biotech ventures, startups, and listed bio companies. Comparable to KDRA in serving as an industry voice in Korean bio policy and operating partnering platforms, but with a broader biotech (vs. pharma R&D) remit and overlapping membership base.

Others

• Korea National Enterprise for Clinical Trials (KoNECT): Government-established clinical trials infrastructure body under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Co-hosts the KoNECT-MOHW-MFDS International Conference alongside KDRA, reflecting overlapping stakeholder relationships in Korean clinical R&D ecosystem support.
• Korea Health Industry Promotion Agency (KHIDI) / Korea Health Industry Development Institute: Government-funded quasi-public agency promoting Korea's health industry, including pharma and bio. KHIDI collaborates with KDRA on industry policy and recognition awards; together they form the public-private backbone of Korean biohealth ecosystem support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Korea New Drug Research Association