The Korean government has established the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing Support Foundation to train and educate talent in the bio-industry from mid to low-income countries. The foundation recently held a launch ceremony at Yonsei University International Campus in Songdo, Incheon, marking the beginning of its operations. In February 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated Korea as the world's sole 'Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing' to enhance the vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturing skills of workers in middle- and low-income nations.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has since collaborated with the WHO, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to train more than 500 bio-industry workers from low- and middle-income countries every year. This marked the third year of the hub.
To fulfill its commitment to train over 2,000 individuals annually, as promised to the international community upon the hub's designation, the Korean government is constructing a dedicated training facility, the Global Bio Campus, in Songdo, set to be completed by the end of the year. This foundation aims to accelerate the development of global bio workers through initiatives from the private sector.
The foundation is a non-profit entity established with the approval of the Minister of Health and Welfare and is situated within the Yonsei International Campus. It aims to enhance its global presence in public health as a key organization for human resources training and to collaborate with international organizations, including the WHO.
In particular, the foundation will collaborate with five institutions designated as regional campuses of the Global Bio Campus to identify various educational courses, including basic theoretical and practical courses required to produce vaccines and biopharmaceuticals.
Specifically, the foundation will focus on enhancing training programs, developing instructor training courses, facilitating internships in collaboration with domestic companies, and offering degree programs in partnership with universities. It will also provide policy consulting tailored to the diverse production capacities and infrastructures of middle- and low-income countries, deliver online education, and offer customized training that addresses the specific needs of the participants.
“We hope the foundation will provide high-quality education for vaccine self-sufficiency in middle- and low-income countries, strengthening Korea's global status and laying the foundation for Korea to become a leading country in the bio-industry”, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Park Min-soo said.
