Korean pharmaceutical and biotech corporations will take the stage at the world's largest biotech event in the biggest numbers ever. At Bio USA 2026, held June 22–25 (local time) in San Diego, about 350 Korean corporations will participate to pursue technology licensing and investment.
Bio USA is the world's largest biotech event organized by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). This year's theme is "Driven by Purpose," and about 20,000 people from global pharmaceutical companies, biotechs, investment institutions and research organizations are expected to attend.
According to the industry on the 22nd, this year's event will focus on major agenda items such as new drug development using artificial intelligence (AI), reorganization of global supply chains, and whether the biotech investment market is recovering. In particular, AI is cited as the biggest topic of this event. Whereas the past focus was on introducing AI technology itself, the consensus is that this year attention is shifting to the stage of validating real research and development (R&D) and commercialization outcomes.
Korean corporations will also lead with AI to draw interest from global partners and investors.
Samsung Biologics is the only Korean corporation to set up a standalone booth for the 14th consecutive year. It plans to install an extra-large LED screen at the venue and spotlight the "Samsung Organoid" service launched in June last year. Organoid is a platform that supports rapid early discovery of new drugs and evaluation of candidate substances.
Celltrion, SK Biopharmaceuticals and Lotte Biologics will set up booths in the "Digital Health & AI" zone inside the venue. SK Biopharmaceuticals plans to present AI use cases applied across research and development and overall management.
At this year's Bio USA, along with AI, the reshaping of global supply chains is also expected to emerge as a key agenda item. As the U.S. government pushes to strengthen domestic biotech manufacturing capacity, global drugmakers are accelerating diversification of production bases.
In particular, as geopolitical risks, intellectual property (IP) protection issues and controversy over the U.S. biosecurity law continue, an so-called "de-risking China" strategy to reduce dependence on China is spreading across the industry. As a result, interest is expected to rise in Korean corporations with contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) and biotech manufacturing competitiveness, such as Samsung Biologics.
Meanwhile, small and midsize biotech corporations and startups will meet overseas companies and investors mainly at the "Korea Pavilion" inside the venue. The Korea Pavilion, operated by the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), will cover 6,500 square feet (about 604㎡) this year, up from 6,000 square feet last year.
Fifty-one corporations were tallied as participants in the Korea Pavilion this year. The number of participating corporations has steadily increased, with 16 in 2022, 20 in 2023, 41 in 2024 and 51 in 2025. Separately, many corporations will also join the "Korea Biohealth Hub" zone operated by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) to hold partnering meetings with global pharmaceutical companies and investors.
Including corporations that are not running booths but are taking part in one-on-one meetings or corporate presentations, about 350 Korean corporations will participate in this Bio USA, the largest number ever. The number of participating corporations last year was about 300.
An industry official said, "This year's Bio USA will be a stage to reaffirm the standing of Korea's biotech industry while identifying the roles Korean corporations will play in the process of restructuring global supply chains."