-Establishes Core Collaboration Framework with Celltrion, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, and Inha University Hospital-
Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that it signed two strategic agreements to complete the full-cycle ecosystem for the bio industry at the ‘2025 Pharmaceutical Bio Investment Fair’ held at the Premier Ballroom of Songdo Convensia on December 2.
On this day, Deputy Mayor Ha Byeong-pil personally announced the ‘Incheon Bio Innovation Strategy (IBIS)’, defining Incheon's future model as a “Bio Growth Partner” amidst the rapidly changing restructuring of the bio industry. He specifically presented the direction for creating a full-cycle bio innovation ecosystem centered on Songdo, Yeongjong, and Namdong.
Notably, through this strategy announcement, Incheon City expressed its strong determination to expand into a ‘global bio city centered on technology and medical innovation,’ leveraging its world-leading production capabilities. It clearly stated its intent to transition beyond a production-focused city into an innovation-centered city, focusing on AI and quantum-based new drug development, and fostering a venture and talent ecosystem.
The subsequent signing ceremony drew significant attention as two key agreements were signed to ensure the sustained growth of Incheon's bio industry.
The first agreement, the “Incheon-Celltrion Joint Growth Agreement,” aims to strengthen the technology and R&D ecosystem centered on Songdo. It includes advancing ▲R&D, ▲open innovation, and ▲global joint research, complementing production and supply chains. This is seen as a key industrial strategy to balance Incheon's ‘production-centric’ structure.
The second agreement, the “Incheon-Gachon University Gil Medical Center·Inha University Hospital Medical Innovation Agreement,” centers on connecting the clinical capabilities and medical data assets held by research-focused hospitals in Incheon with biotech companies' ▲technology validation, ▲clinical linkage, and ▲medical device commercialization. This will enable Incheon to establish a medical-industrial convergence R&D ecosystem jointly pursued by industry, academia, hospitals, and government.
Meanwhile, the “2025 Pharmaceutical & Bio Investment Fair,” hosted by Incheon City and co-organized by the Incheon Tourism Organization, KOTRA, and the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, drew significant interest in Incheon's future bio strategy. It saw large-scale participation from domestic and international bio companies, investment institutions, and research organizations, including Celltrion, Samsung Bioepis, and Sartorius Korea.
Deputy Mayor Ha Byeong-pil stated, “This announcement and agreement lay the most crucial foundation for Incheon's leap toward becoming a global bio hub,” adding, “We will spare no administrative or financial support to create a bio ecosystem where companies can truly thrive.”
