보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Assembly of Global Vaccine & Biotechnology Leaders in Seoul to Discuss Humanity’s Response Strategies to Infectious Diseases

 

- World Bio Summit 2023 (2023.11.20.~21.) -

 

 

<Summary>

 

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Cho, KyooHong) announced that it will co-host the 「World Bio Summit 2023」 (hereinafter referred to as the World Bio Summit)」 with the World Health Organization (WHO) under the theme titled ‘Strengthening capacities for pandemic response: Preparation of Workforce, Business, and Civil Society’ at the Conrad Seoul Hotel (located in Yeongdeungpo-gu) from November 20 (Monday) to 21 (Tuesday).

 

In its second year since last year, the World Bio Summit is being held as an annual international event. The Korean government, which is proactively promoting a 'leap forward as a global hub for biohealth,' invites leaders in the bio field from various governments, companies, and international organizations around the world to discuss international cooperation strategies and policies.

 

In particular, this year's World Bio Summit is participated by international organizations that play a pivotal role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in the vaccine and bio fields (Asian Development Bank (ADB), Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), International Vaccine Institute (IVI), and Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(KDCA)), contributing as partner organizations and cooperating in organizing detailed programs, garnering high anticipation for more professional presentations and discussions.

 

Through this, expansion of vaccine production and development capabilities in the governmental, corporate, and international organization levels to prepare for future pandemics, training of biomanufacturing workforce, regulatory innovation, and financial support measures are to be discussed, and the ways to develop the regional hubs for vaccine manufacturing and development that is recently emerging in the vaccine field will be examined.

 

At the 「World Bio Summit 2023」, Minister of Health and Welfare Cho, KyooHong said, “I hope this Summit will serve as a constructive opportunity to once again reflect on the importance of global cooperation to respond to future pandemics, and to urge continued interest and action for the response to infectious diseases and to build a secure health system that safeguards the public from threats to human health.”

 

<Detailed Content>

 

This event kicks off on November 20 consisting of an opening ceremony with the regulatory session and welcome dinner (Session 1, partner organization: Asian Development Bank), and proceeds on the next day November 21 with the therapeutics session (Session 2, partner organization: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), followed by the diagnostics session (Session 3, Partner Organization: Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics), vaccine session (Session 4, partner organization: Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, International Vaccine Institute), and a closing ceremony.

 

In Session 1 will focus on discussing ways to bolster vaccine, pharmaceutical, and diagnostics manufacturing and regulatory oversight to strengthen capacities for pandemic response under the theme of 'Regulatory Oversight to Build Capacities for Pandemic Response', with the participation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as a partner organization. It is expected that this session will provide implications for low- and middle- income countries striving to institute a pharmaceutical regulatory system or to make major strides to an advanced regulatory system, and serve as an opportunity to explore the development of safe and effective local vaccines.

 

In Session 2, under the theme of 'Accelerating Pandemic Therapeutics Development and Manufacturing to Respond to Future Pandemics', it is expected that the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency will serve as a partner organization to share global strategies for therapeutics development and find ways to maximize each country's capacities through regional cooperation at each stage of therapeutics research and development.

 

In Session 3, under the theme of ‘Accelerating pandemic diagnostics development and manufacturing’, the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) will take part as a partner organization to discuss future diagnostic market trends, ways to strengthen future diagnostic capacities, and collaborative approaches in South Korea to enhance diagnostic accessibility in low- and middle- income countries.

 

Session 4, under the theme of ‘Strengthening Global Preparedness Through CEPI’s 100-Day Mission’, will introduce the CEPI’s 100-day mission, CEPI’s collaboration with International Vaccine Institute(IVI), collaboration with industry and engagement with academia, and the achievements of the National Institute of Health Center for Vaccine Research (KVRC).

 

During the event, various types of side events such as luncheons, seminars, and business networking will be held. In particular, the results of Korea’s successful vaccine manufacturing training in low- and middle- income countries will be shared at the ‘Networking Luncheon with Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing(GTH-B)’ sponsored by ADB.

 

The 'Korea-CEPI R&D Workshop' and 'Korea-ADB Side Session', planned in association with the CEPI and ADB, will separately proceed with discussing the topics of 'Vaccine Development Research in Korea' and ’Path and Innovation Towards Climate Resilience and Low-Carbon Bio Sector’, and the ‘Global Business Lounge’ will be set up to foster and facilitate cooperation between international organizations, global companies, overseas health ministries and domestic bio companies.

 

There are also plans for bilateral meetings with key overseas figures attending the World Bio Summit. The 2nd Vice-Minister of Health and Welfare Park Minsoo will have meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development Abdulaziz bin Hamad bin Saleh Al-Ramaih to discuss major cooperation matters that the two sides have jointly undertaken on an ongoing basis, such as conducting medical training program and attracting Saudi patients.

 

Additionally, high-ranking MOHW officials also plan to meet sequentially with Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Health Ihor Kuzin, Laos’ Vice Minister of Health Phayvanh Keopaseuth, WHO Assistant Director-General of External Relations and Governance Catharina Boehme, and Chair of CEPI Board Jane Halton to proceed with discussions on key issues of mutual interest of both sides. ///