Naepo, Chungnam Province, South Korea – South Korea's ambitious vision for a global green bio hub is rapidly taking shape in Chungnam Province, as the Naepo Agri-Bio Convergence Industry Cluster (Naepo Agri-Bio Cluster) prepares to welcome the prestigious Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) research institute, solidifying its partnership with global biopharmaceutical giant Celltrion. This strategic collaboration marks a significant leap towards establishing the cluster as the epicenter of Korea's green bio industry.

On June 19, Governor Kim Tae-heum of Chungnam Province, alongside KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung and Yesan County Mayor Choi Jae-gu, formally inked an agreement for the expedited establishment of the KAIST Green Bio Research Institute. This pivotal agreement, signed during the groundbreaking ceremony for the green bio research facility within the Naepo Agri-Bio Cluster, underscores a shared commitment to fostering an innovative ecosystem.

The KAIST research institute is slated for construction within the Green Bio Venture Campus, a state-of-the-art facility poised to be completed by 2027. With an investment of KRW 25.5 billion, the 8,723-square-meter campus will house cutting-edge infrastructure, including dedicated spaces for material and raw material storage, product research, advanced equipment utilization, and a robust startup incubation environment. KAIST's role will extend beyond research to actively operating the Green Bio Venture Campus, offering crucial support to budding venture startups and established corporate research initiatives.

A key highlight of this partnership is the anticipated synergy between the KAIST research institute and the adjacent Celltrion Chungnam plant. This close proximity is expected to ignite collaborative endeavors, driving the expansion and innovation of the green bio industry ecosystem in the region. The agreement outlines a clear division of responsibilities: Chungnam Province and Yesan County will provide comprehensive administrative and financial backing for the research institute's establishment, while KAIST will focus on its operational aspects, attracting businesses, and nurturing venture startups through dedicated research and development support and talent cultivation.

The recent groundbreaking ceremony marked the official commencement of construction for both the Green Bio Venture Campus and the Bioactive Product Global Business Support Center. The latter, strategically positioned between the Green Bio Venture Campus and Celltrion's Chungnam plant, represents a significant investment of KRW 29.9 billion and is scheduled for completion by 2028. This two-story, 6,945-square-meter center will be instrumental in bolstering global commercialization efforts. Its functions will include building essential infrastructure such as a global product advancement center and platform, providing technical assistance for customized product development for international markets, and facilitating market entry through domestic and international exhibitions and diverse distribution platforms.

Governor Kim Tae-heum articulated the transformative potential of the cluster, stating, "The Naepo Agri-Bio Cluster will become the bedrock of Korea's agri-bio industry. The Bioactive Product Global Support Center and the Green Bio Venture Campus are fundamental to this vision." He further emphasized the province's commitment to creating a complete value chain within the cluster, seamlessly integrating research, production, industrialization, and distribution. This holistic approach will be further supported by other recently secured research facilities, including an agricultural machinery R&D support center, a food tech center, and a pet food commercialization center, all designed to bolster the green bio industry ecosystem.

The Naepo Agri-Bio Cluster, spanning 1.65 million square meters in Sapgyo-eup, Yesan-gun, is meticulously designed to achieve several ambitious goals: establishing a leading model for Korea's future agri-food industry, fostering a convergence industry ecosystem rooted in agri-bio resources, nurturing future generations of farmers, and realizing a forward-thinking rural economy. The cluster is intelligently segmented into an industrial complex, smart farms, and a dedicated research support complex.

The industrial complex has garnered significant interest, with 42 companies expressing their intent to relocate. Already, investment agreements totaling KRW 750 billion have been secured with 25 companies, including industry stalwarts like Celltrion and Boram Bio. The smart farm section is poised to welcome young farmers for residency starting next year, envisioned as a breeding ground for future agricultural innovation through the cultivation of high-functional crops and the dissemination of vertical farming technologies. The research support complex, slated to house five facilities by 2028, will serve as the intellectual powerhouse of the entire Naepo Agri-Bio Cluster.

The cluster's economic viability and business feasibility received a stamp of approval in March, having successfully passed the Ministry of Interior and Safety's central investment review. Celltrion, a joint implementer of a portion of the industrial complex alongside Yesan County, plans to finalize and secure approval for the industrial complex plan within the current year. Following approval, Celltrion is set to invest KRW 300 billion by 2028 to establish a new biopharmaceutical production plant, further cementing the cluster's role in the global bio landscape.

The broader bio industry, driven by advancements in biotechnology, harnesses the power of living organisms to generate diverse added values. The integration of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) is ushering in an era of unprecedented innovation. The White House, recognizing this transformative potential, projects that by 2032, over 30% of existing manufacturing industries, representing a staggering 30 trillion dollars, will transition to bio-based alternatives. Green bio, a specialized domain within this industry, leverages natural living resources. Its key sectors encompass agricultural biotechnology, smart farm technologies, functional foods and health-promoting materials, microbial utilization, the development of bio-fertilizers and pesticides, the creation of energy and eco-friendly materials from plant biomass, and advanced environmental purification technologies. The strategic establishment of the Naepo Agri-Bio Cluster, with its powerful Celltrion-KAIST alliance, is set to position South Korea at the forefront of this burgeoning global revolution.