Korea Bio Association

What Korea Bio Association does

KoreaBIO (Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization), legally Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization, is a non-profit industry association operating as the sole designated representative body for South Korea's bioindustry under Article 38 of the Industrial Development Act, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The organization traces its roots to 1982 (Korea Genetic Engineering Research Association) and assumed its current form in 2008 through the merger of three predecessor bodies. KoreaBIO represents approximately 1,251 bio companies in South Korea covering biopharmaceuticals, digital healthcare, biomaterials/bioenergy, and agri-food biotechnology, with the underlying industry generating KRW 22.9 trillion in sales in 2024.

KoreaBIO operates an interconnected portfolio of programs addressing the full company lifecycle: BIOPLUS-INTERPHEX KOREA (BIX), a UFI-approved international bio convention serving as the flagship event; Global Mingle, an overseas expansion program operating Korea Pavilions at BIO USA, BIO Asia-Taiwan, BIO Europe, API China, BioJapan, and BioIndia; Bio Academy, providing workforce training from high-school level (Bio Meister High Schools) to professional GMP and biopharmaceutical specialization; Bio Think Tank, conducting annual surveys of roughly 1,000 bio companies and publishing the KBIOIS (Korea Bioindustry Information Service) portal; Venture Playground, a startup-to-IPO support platform; and Dealmaker Academy, providing BD and licensing training.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership dues scaled to member company revenue (KRW 2.4 million annually for companies under KRW 1 billion in revenue, up to KRW 28.8 million for companies over KRW 500 billion), one-time new-member registration fees, and event-related income from BIX and other programs. Services are delivered through a multilingual website, the Korea Bio Park facility in Pangyo (Seongnam), international convention participation, and a network of MOUs with global bio associations and government agencies.

Name

Korea Bio Association

Legal name

Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBIO)

Website

https://koreabio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KoreaBIO is a non-profit industry association designated by the South Korean government as the sole representative body for the national bioindustry. It serves more than 1,250 Korean bio companies through membership programs, an international convention (BIX), workforce training, industry statistics, and overseas expansion support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seongnam

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees collected from bio-related companies in South Korea, scaled by company revenue. Revenue bracket from KRW 2.4 million (under KRW 1 billion revenue) to KRW 28.8 million (over KRW 500 billion revenue), plus one-time new member registration fees.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

KoreaBIO is a non-profit industry association that provides policy advocacy, talent development, startup support, overseas expansion, research and analysis, and marketing/PR services to Korea's bioindustry. Its portfolio includes the BIOPLUS-INTERPHEX KOREA (BIX) international convention, Global Mingle overseas expansion program, Bio Academy workforce training, Bio Think Tank industry research, Venture Playground startup support, and the KBIOIS statistical information portal.

Product overview

KoreaBIO (Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization) operates as a comprehensive bio-industry support ecosystem rather than a single product. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected programs including: (1) BIOPLUS-INTERPHEX KOREA (BIX) as the flagship international convention for bio-business partnering; (2) Global Mingle for overseas expansion support; (3) Bio Academy for workforce development; (4) Bio Think Tank for industry research and statistics (including KBIOIS portal); (5) Venture Playground for startup investment support; (6) Dealmaker Academy for BD training; and (7) an Integrated Consulting Service Platform. These programs work together to support the full lifecycle of bio companies from education and research (Bio Think Tank, Bio Academy) through growth and investment (Venture Playground) to global expansion (Global Mingle, BIX), supported by policy initiatives and industry statistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BIOPLUS-INTERPHEX KOREA (BIX): Comprehensive international bio convention to support commercialization of bio-technology and expand business globally
• Global Mingle
• Bio Academy
• Venture Playground
• Bio Think Tank
• Korea Bioindustry Information Service (KBIOIS)
• BIO TV

Products and services

• BIOPLUS-INTERPHEX KOREA (BIX) A comprehensive international bio convention that supports the commercialization of bio-technology and expands business globally. It is Korea's largest bio industry exhibition and partnering event, hosting hundreds of companies and facilitating business matching between domestic and international biotech firms.
• Global Mingle An overseas expansion support program that operates global partnering activities including support for participating in overseas conventions, hosting Global IR pitching events for investment attraction, big pharma open innovation challenges, and seminars for strengthening overseas expansion capabilities.
• Bio Academy A full-cycle training program that nurtures professionals in the bio-field, targeting high school students through current employees. Includes HR development programs for Bio Meister High Schools, competency-building training for bio-company incumbents (pharmaceutical processing, medical device GMP, bio big data analysis, bio IP), and novel HR development projects for GMP experts and biopharmaceutical specialists.
• Bio Think Tank The organization's own research unit that conducts statistical research on Korea's bio-industry through annual surveys of about 1,000 bio-companies, performs quarterly performance analysis on listed bio-health companies, and publishes domestic and international briefings on bio-industry issues.
• Venture Playground A platform supporting growth and investment covering the full cycle, from prospective founders to listed companies. Includes support for bio-startups and venture companies through bio-accelerator mentoring, bio-entrepreneurship education, medical institution-venture cooperation, IPO preparation, and operation of bio-venture IR programs for investment attraction.
• KBIOIS (Korea Bioindustry Information Service) A comprehensive information service portal that provides industry statistics, trend analysis, domestic and international company information, and in-depth analysis reports on the bio-healthcare industry. Operated as a one-stop information service for bio-industry data and analytics.
• Dealmaker Academy A program designed to strengthen global business development (BD) capabilities of Korean biotech professionals. Co-hosted with K-BD Network, it provides training on contract review, licensing practices, AI-assisted NCD creation, and global partnering competencies through seminars and workshops.
• Korea Bioindustry Statistics Annual comprehensive statistics reports on Korea's bio-industry covering company distribution, workforce status, investment status, and supply/demand status. Based on KS J 1009 bioindustry classification code with complete enumeration surveys of bio R&D and production companies.
• Integrated Consulting Service Platform A comprehensive consulting platform offering M&A strategy support, MD consulting, BD partnering, accounting practical training, and global market entry support. Provides customized professional consulting services leveraging experience and networks in the bio sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,251 bio companies surveyed and represented as of 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• INNOPOLIS (Korea Innovation Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026MOU signed on June 1, 2026 to support global expansion and investment attraction of biotech companies. Partnership aims to strengthen integrated support for overseas expansion and investment attraction amid restructuring of global supply chains and intensifying competition in new drug development.
• Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association (KPBMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026MOU signed with KPBMA, KHIDI and KOTRA to establish a joint support structure ('K-Pharma Bio One Team') for domestic companies seeking to expand overseas, signed at COEX in Seoul.
• Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026MOU signed with KPBMA, KHIDI and KOTRA to establish a joint support structure ('K-Pharma Bio One Team') for domestic companies seeking to expand overseas.
• KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026MOU signed with KPBMA, KHIDI and KOTRA to establish a joint support structure ('K-Pharma Bio One Team') for domestic companies seeking to expand overseas.
• PIVOTBRIDGEmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Cooperation Agreement signed to promote M&A activities among member companies, helping Korean biotech firms facilitate mergers and acquisitions for growth and consolidation.
• Ajou University Medical Center (Efficacy Evaluation Center for Mental & Behavioral Disorders)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026MOU signed with the Efficacy Evaluation Center for Mental & Behavioral Disorders at Ajou University Medical Center for collaboration in the biohealth sector.
• Korea Exchange (KRX)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Host partner for Korea IPO Session 'Gateway to Korea' at BIO USA 2026, promoting KOSDAQ as an IPO gateway for biotech companies.
• SeoulBioHubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2025Partner organization participating in Korea Pavilion at BIO USA, representing Seoul's biotech startup ecosystem.
• Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2025Partner organization participating in Korea Pavilion at BIO USA, representing Gyeonggi Province's biotech ecosystem.
• Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2025Partner organization supporting Korea Pavilion at BIO USA.
• ICEX Spain Trade and InvestmentminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Co-hosting online webinar titled 'The Biotech Ecosystem in South Korea 2026' with ICEX Spain Trade and Investment and the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of Spain in Seoul, providing Spanish companies with an overview of Korea's biotech ecosystem.
• LonzaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025KoreaBIO partnered with Lonza for joint webinar promoting small molecules capabilities targeting the Korean biotech market.
• Maekyung Media GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2025MOU signed to co-host the East-West Biopharma Summit 2026, expanding collaboration with Maekyung Media Group and BioCentury.
• Invest SeoulminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 September 2025Co-organized Global IR @SIF (Seoul Investment Forum) to support biotech company investment attraction and networking.
• BioCenturycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Cooperation Agreement signed at the EW Summit between Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBIO), BioCentury and Maeil Business Newspaper to promote industry knowledge sharing and strategic collaboration.
• Maeil Business NewspapercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Cooperation Agreement signed at the EW Summit between Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBIO), BioCentury and Maeil Business Newspaper to promote industry knowledge sharing and strategic collaboration.
• RochemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partnering Open Innovation Program with Roche, providing Korean biotech companies opportunities for collaboration with the global pharmaceutical company.
• Korea BIO BioThink Tank / KBIOIScoreOthers · 1 July 2025Korea Bioindustry Information Service (KBIOIS) portal operated by KoreaBIO for statistical data and industry analysis, providing the association's own research and information services.
• Biocom CaliforniamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025MOU signed to promote global cooperation between Korean and California biotech industries, facilitating partnership and market expansion support.
• Shonan iParkmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025MOU signed for biotech collaboration, supporting open innovation and technology exchange between Korean and Japanese biotech ecosystems.
• Korea BIO K-BD NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Ongoing co-hosting of Dealmaker Academy seminars to enhance global BD capabilities of Korean biotech professionals. Multiple seminars held in 2025 and 2026.
• CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial, Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025CDTI Representative in Korea participated in Korea-Spain cooperation programs webinar, promoting bilateral biotech collaboration.
• Turkish Bio Association (BIYOSAD)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MOU signed to foster cooperation between Turkish and Korean bio industries.
• Sidley Austin LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Co-organized Dealmaker Academy seminars with Sidley Austin LLP to strengthen global BD and licensing capabilities of Korean biotech BD professionals.
• Danish Bio Association (DANSK BIOTEK)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024MOU signed to promote cooperation between Danish and Korean biotech sectors.
• Switzerland Innovation Park Network West EPFL (SIP West EPFL)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024MOU signed to promote collaboration between Korean and Swiss biotech ecosystems, supporting market access and partnership opportunities for member companies.
• Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (KSBB)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024MOU signed to promote the development and growth of Korea's bio-industry through joint academic and research activities.
• Chuncheon Bioindustry FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023MOU signed to promote the development of the bioindustry and train skilled professionals in the Chuncheon region.
• Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) - United StatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023MOU signed with the US Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) to promote international cooperation and provide platforms for Korean biotech companies to engage with the global biotech community.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EuropaBio: The European Association for Bioindustries; functionally comparable to KoreaBIO as a continental-level biotech industry association with policy advocacy, member events, and international partnering programs.
• Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association (KPBMA): Korea's pharmaceutical manufacturers association; KPBMA is KoreaBIO's domestic counterpart for pharma and KoreaBIO co-signed the K-Pharma Bio One Team MOU with KPBMA, making it a close functional peer in the same local ecosystem.
• Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO): The US national biotech industry association; KoreaBIO has a formal MOU with BIO and operates the Korea Pavilion at BIO USA, making BIO its closest direct functional peer as a national industry association with global convention footprint.
• BioIndustry Association (BIA): UK's national biotech trade association; comparable in scope to KoreaBIO as a non-profit representing its country's bioindustry with policy advocacy, partnering events, and member services.
• Japan Bioindustry Association (JBA): Japan's national bioindustry association; KoreaBIO's partner Shonan iPark links it to JBA's ecosystem, and the two are direct peers as Asian national bioindustry associations with overlapping government mandate and international partnering focus.

Regional players

• Biocom California: California's largest life-science association; KoreaBIO has an MOU with Biocom for Korea-California biotech cooperation, and Biocom is comparable in scope as a regional bioindustry association serving a major biotech cluster.
• DANSK BIOTEK: Denmark's biotech industry association; KoreaBIO has an MOU with DANSK BIOTEK, and the two are comparable as country-level associations with international collaboration as a stated mission.
• BIO Deutschland: Germany's national biotech industry association; comparable as a non-profit representing its domestic bioindustry with policy advocacy and BIOTECHNICA events, though geographically focused on Germany.
• Turkish Bio Industry Association (BIYOSAD): Turkey's national biotech association; KoreaBIO has an MOU with BIYOSAD, and the two are comparable as country-level bio industry associations seeking international partnerships.

Others

• Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI): Government-affiliated health industry promotion agency; KoreaBIO jointly signed the K-Pharma Bio One Team with KHIDI, and KHIDI is a comparable industry-support organization in Korea's healthcare ecosystem, though focused on government-led health industry development rather than private company representation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KoreaBIOTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/koreabio.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/385844/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/koreabioorg
• Xx.com/bio_korea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Korea Bio Association