Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization supports investment for 31 biotech firms

The Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBIO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the New Industry Investment Vehicle Council, has supported 31 biotechnology companies in securing investments through various growth stages.

During the second half of the year, the organization facilitated investor relations (IR) sessions and 20 one-on-one meetings between companies and specialized venture capitalists or strategic investors. The support was divided into two main programs: the ‘24th Golden Seed Challenge,’ which targeted early-stage companies (Seed to Series A), and the ‘21st Smart Start,’ which focused on companies preparing for follow-on funding (Series B and C).

To further assist the sector, KoreaBIO published the ‘2026 Bio Startup Investment Attraction Guide,’ providing information on investment criteria, exit strategies such as M&A and licensing, and details on major domestic bio-venture investors. The organization plans to continue these phased investment programs in 2027, alongside expanding commercialization support through initiatives like ‘Bio StarLink’ and diversifying exit strategies for bio-companies.