Kookmin University's Biohealth Material Production Process Innovation Human Resource Development Project (Director: Lee In Hyung, Deputy Director: Cho Hyun Yeol) participated in BIO Asia-Taiwan 2024 held in Taipei, Taiwan from July 24 to 30 as part of the Global Capacity Building Program for the Biohealth Industry and visited excellent biotechnology research institutes and universities in Taiwan.

Participating students departing for global empowerment programs

This program was supported by the Next Generation BioHealth Innovation Talent Development Project (sponsored by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy and the Ministry of Education), and was designed to provide a balanced global leadership program for 10 students who were selected through a screening process from among the students studying in the Convergence Major in the BioHealth Industry at KU, to learn about the latest technological trends of companies in the cutting-edge biohealth sector, visit excellent research institutes and universities in Taiwan, and enhance their global competencies through a balanced program of both industry and academia.

BIO Asia-Taiwan 2024 attracted a wide range of companies in the biohealth sector, including multinational pharmaceutical giants such as GSK, AstraZeneka, Amgen, and Takeda Pharmaceutical, as well as leading domestic CDMOs such as Celltrion and Kolon Biotech. The students visited overseas companies of interest and conducted on-site interviews to gain an in-depth understanding of the changes and trends in the biohealth industry and identify the latest technologies.

Attending BIO Asia-Taiwan

The students then visited the Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC), which serves as both a translational research center and a test bed for biohealth ventures, to learn about the educational programs of Kookmin University and the Biohealth Materials Production Process Innovation Talent Development Project, and to interact with each other about the current state of cutting-edge biohealth R&D at BioTReC and internal bioventure companies. In addition, the team visited National Taiwan University, a top university in Taiwan that excels in the fields of clinical, health, and engineering, and toured laboratories related to the convergence majors in the biohealth industry, such as 3D printing, biomaterials, and biosensors, and mentored with working researchers. 

Visit BioTReC

Visit the Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University

After the successful conclusion of this global capacity building program, Lee In-hyung, head of the project, said, “It was a great capacity building opportunity that enhanced the students' global sense and sense of improvement as much as the first global capacity building program held earlier this year.” “We will do our best to continue to provide the educational programs and benefits necessary for students to become experts in this field through this project,” he said, encouraging students to continue participating.

Kookmin University's Biohealth Material Production Process Innovation Talent Development Project operates the 'Biohealth Industry Convergence Major' involving the Department of Biofermentation and Convergence, the Department of Artificial Intelligence, and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and has been conducting educational programs that meet the needs of the industry by reflecting the voices of companies in the biohealth material industry with the goal of fostering and supplying innovative talents in the field of biohealth material production processes.