Seoul's bio startup hub 'Seoul Bio Hub' has partnered with global pharmaceutical leader 'Celltrion' to introduce the '2025 Seoul Bio Hub-Celltrion Global Open Innovation (GOI)' program. This initiative extends beyond a mere competition, providing a platform that assists U.S. startups in successfully penetrating the Asian market. The GOI is specifically aimed at U.S.-based bio and medical startups that have been established within the last seven years. Recruitment will cover all technologies that can collaborate with Celltrion, such as antibodies, peptides, small molecules, formulations, and cell and gene therapies. The deadline for applications is September 30, 2025. Following the application period, the selection process will identify two companies that will receive tailored support and opportunities to expand into global markets through collaboration with Celltrion, utilizing South Korea's innovative ecosystem and global capabilities. A representative from Seoul Bio Hub remarked, "This program will serve as a bridgehead that goes beyond simple space support, enabling U.S. startups to rapidly grow in the Asian market by leveraging Seoul's excellent clinical infrastructure and research environment."

Meanwhile, a Celltrion representative stated, "Based on Celltrion's capabilities and know-how accumulated across the entire pharmaceutical industry process including R&D, production, and sales, we will support promising U.S. startups to successfully enter the Asian market and create synergy with our company." South Korea has positioned itself as a leading bio hub in the global market, evidenced by statistics from global consulting firm Intralink, which values the country's biopharmaceutical market at approximately $22 billion, ranking it 13th worldwide. Additionally, market research firm Grand View Research predicts that South Korea's biotechnology market will reach $81.6 billion (around 110 trillion KRW) by 2030, with an annual growth rate of 18.3%. Investment in private sectors has also been robust, with annual R&D and facility investments growing by an average of 21.6% from 2020 to 2022. This indicates that South Korea is not just a potential market but a rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem. ClinicalTrials.gov data shows that Seoul has consistently ranked among the top global cities for new clinical trials over the past decade. The South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare has established the policy goal of 'Achieving Global 3rd Place in Clinical Trials' as part of the '3rd Five-Year Plan for the Pharmaceutical and Bio Industry (2023-2027)'. In 2025, it raised over 386.6 billion KRW through the 'Bio Health Mega Fund' to support innovative companies in clinical trials and commercialization, aided by the national integrated bio big data project and AI regulatory sandboxes.