Seoul hospital to promote biotech startups at BIO 2026

June 16 (Asia Today) -- Seoul National University Hospital will operate its first independent booth at the BIO International Convention, using the world's largest biotechnology industry gathering as a platform to help five South Korean startups enter global markets.

The hospital said Tuesday it will run the booth at the 2026 convention, scheduled for Monday through June 25 in San Diego.

Organized by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, the annual event brings together pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, investors and research institutions to pursue partnerships, investments and business development opportunities.

More than 20,000 industry representatives from over 70 countries are expected to attend this year's convention.

Seoul National University Hospital has participated in the event before, but this will be the first time it has operated an independent booth under its own name.

Until last year, the hospital presented research results as a participating institution at a booth operated by Seoul National University's research and development foundation.

South Korean university hospitals have previously conducted partnering meetings and research exchanges at the convention. Industry observers said it remains uncommon for a hospital to maintain an independent exhibition booth and promote its institutional brand directly.

The hospital will feature five biotechnology startups it supports as well as research conducted by its national strategic technology institute.

The participating companies are HT&B, MediArk, RS Rehab, Idea2Market and Cenyx Biotech.

HT&B and MediArk were selected for the hospital's Global Bio Scale-up Enterprise Advancement and Technology project. RS Rehab, Idea2Market and Cenyx Biotech were founded by researchers affiliated with the hospital.

The scale-up project, launched in 2024 with support from South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea, helps biotechnology companies established within the past five years improve their technology and international business capabilities.

The six-year program has a budget of 12.6 billion won, or about $8.3 million. It plans to select 14 companies and provide support for research and development, commercialization and domestic and international partnerships.

MediArk is developing gene therapies using metal-organic framework-based nucleic acid delivery technology. HT&B develops radiation-protection drugs and biomaterials for dental applications.

RS Rehab is developing rehabilitation medical devices for treating swallowing disorders, while Idea2Market studies digital healthcare technologies based on biological signals.

Cenyx Biotech is pursuing next-generation treatments using a nanozyme platform.

The hospital plans to help the companies arrange international business development meetings, network with investors and identify overseas partners during the convention.

It will also promote the work of its national strategic technology institute.

South Korea's Health Ministry designated Seoul National University Hospital as the country's first specialized research institute for national strategic technologies in 2024. The hospital has since conducted research on the analysis and use of digital health data.

At the convention, the hospital will introduce the Korea Health Data Platform, a global research platform being developed around digital health information. It will also seek opportunities for joint projects with overseas research institutions.

The independent booth reflects the hospital's effort to expand beyond patient care and academic research by becoming a platform for biotechnology company development and technology commercialization.

"The research capabilities of Seoul National University and Seoul National University Hospital must lead to a virtuous ecosystem connecting industry, academia, research institutions and hospitals," hospital President Nam-Jong Paik said at an inaugural news conference Monday.

"We will help technologies and companies created within this ecosystem enter global markets and contribute to developing future national growth industries," Paik said.

Kwon Seong-geun, the hospital's vice president for research, said the booth was established to support promising South Korean biotechnology companies seeking international expansion and to showcase the hospital's strategic research capabilities.

"We plan to actively identify opportunities for international joint research and global cooperation," Kwon said.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260616010005445

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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 7:01 PM.