The 2023 World Bio Innovation Forum (WBIF), which shares global research achievements and the latest trends in the bio field, will be held offline and online at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) from the 6th to the 8th.

The forum is organized by WBIF (Representative Chae Su-chan), a global NGO in bio health, and co-hosted by Jeollabuk-do, the JBNU Regional Innovation Center, and the KAIST Graduate School of Bio-Innovation Management. The forum will feature presentations and discussions by global experts and industry representatives on cutting-edge areas of bio-healthcare and companion animal healthcare.

On the first day, the 6th, the forum shared successful cases of global bio clusters from countries such as the United States and Switzerland. In addition, Kim Kwan-young, Governor of Jeollabuk-do, directly participated and presented plans to establish a bio cluster in Jeonbuk.

Participants including the Institute for Basic Science, Organoid Science, Kangstem Biotech, Gradient BioConvergence and other bio companies, as well as global experts from Austria and Japan, discussed R&D and commercialization of organoid and stem cell research, designated as advanced strategic industries.

On the following day, the 7th, the forum will discuss commercialization of the advanced bio field of the microbiome, with participation from Harvard Medical School and biotech startups such as Genome & Company and HEM Pharma. In the comparative oncology session, global bio companies such as Galatea Bio and ImpriMed and researchers from domestic universities including Seoul National University and Konkuk University will discuss conquering cancer in humans and animals.

On the third day, the 8th, discussions on establishing regulatory systems for pharmaceuticals and medical devices for companion animals—distinct from those for humans and livestock—will include participation from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and U.S. experts on regulation of companion animal pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Chae Su-chan, Representative of WBIF, said, "The World Bio Innovation Forum, held remotely out of Jeonju since 2021, has attracted attention as a global forum discussing cutting-edge bio innovation. As a latecomer in bio-healthcare, South Korea must focus on new advanced research fields. In particular, there is an opportunity for Jeonbuk to establish a global hub in the companion animal bio-healthcare sector. This will contribute to attracting a bio-specialized complex to Jeonbuk and to establishing a global companion animal innovation special zone," he said.