[Interview] Kim Jangseong, President of KRIBB, zeros in on support for biotech start-ups.“Continue to sow seeds and make discoveries for the intensive growth of the biotech industry”“Laying the foundation for the creation of a global success”

“The biotech industry has never been at the center of attention until now. As a researcher, I am pleased to see such attention, but at the same time this means that there is a lot for me to shoulder as the head of an associated research institute. I am striving to gather momentum in sharpening the Korean biotech industry’s competitiveness at the global level and discovering the burgeoning seeds that can become future growth engines.”

Serving as the president of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), which focuses on R&D activities in the biotech sector, Kim Jangseong is responsible for helping the biotech industry pave the way for the nation’s growth and making a multi-faceted effort for cooperation with related organizations.  

Due to the nature of the biotech industry, it requires not only human resources and infrastructure to develop a new medicine, but also a lot of time to secure know-how and accumulate the technologies needed. Enormous costs are involved as well. This is the reason large pharmaceutical firms in countries which are developed in terms of science and technology tend to dominate most of the global market. In addition, it is a winner-take-all field for whomever develops the world’s top technology in a given field. This also means that it is difficult for latecomers who simply follow in the footsteps of the front-runner to make any inroads into the market. 

In South Korea, R&D activities in the sector of science and technology were initiated in the mid-1960s, primarily by the heavy chemical industry. Under the national policies of the time, in most cases, applied research was conducted to be utilized immediately in the industry. The biotech boom in Korea emerged during the early 1980s when a craze for genetic engineering swept across the world. 
 

 

Mr,Kim explained the background of the establishment of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, along with his appreciation of the somewhat inferior bio-industry.
Mr,Kim explained the background of the establishment of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, along with his appreciation of the somewhat inferior bio-industry.
Mr. Kim explained, “Back then, South Korea was no better than a barren wilderness for R&D, with insufficient bio-related technology, environment or human resources. In particular, technological upgrades and experience were needed in order for research outcomes to be commercialized; but the national system to support all of that was very poor.”

Recognizing the need to nurture the biotech industry on a national level, the government enacted the Genetic Engineering Support Act (currently revised to as the Biotechnology Support Act), and based on this Act, established the Genetic Engineering Center (now known as KRIBB) in 1985 as a research institute to oversee R&D in the biotech industry. 

He emphasized, “Thanks to such governmental support, the competitiveness of research bodies in the industry, in academia and research institutes has improved a lot. For several years, a series of outstanding performances such as large-scale technology exports have been reported by many organizations including Hanmi Pharmaceuticals. Even newly-created start-ups have made some notable achievements. No one knows which outcome will prove a winner. Now is the time to contemplate how to survive in the market and focus on growth in such a highly-competitive global market.” 

◆ “Brilliant human resources,” one of the Korean biotech industry’s strengths in the global market

Mr. Kim singles out outstanding human resources as the strong point of the nation’s biotech sector. In terms of the extent of their financial and human resources, Korean pharmaceutical firms and research institutes pale next to their overseas counterparts, but the excellence of Korea’s human resources is second to none. In particular, the role of universities in R&D has been upgraded and researchers who used to work at state-funded research institutes or large conglomerates have joined in starting up their own businesses, enhancing R&D activities in the nation’s biotech industry. 

Mr. Kim continued, “Remarkable successes are adding up one after another as brilliantly talented researchers come up with good ideas that have led to the commercialization of technologies that previously have not existed in the market. We need to establish a foothold for start-ups to grow and penetrate into the market by offering the support they need, since human resources are Korea’s unique strength. Support should be customized to the needs of biotech start-ups so that they can stay competitive in the global market as well.”

Mr. Kim also pointed out regulations as a factor to be addressed in order for biotech start-ups to perform well and be strongly competitive in the global market. This means that regulations which stand in the way of technologies to be commercialized need to be overhauled. Of course, a rigid and conservative approach is needed in the biotech sector since it is directly related to human life.  

He advised, “It is difficult to ease regulations once they are put in place. South Korea used to take the initiative in stem-cell research, but now we have been overtaken by the US and Japan due to stifling regulations. “We still have too many regulations for technology to be developed based on ideas and be successfully commercialized. It is necessary to advance and streamline regulations by transforming current positive regulations into negative ones, in order to induce biotechnological innovation and compete on a level playing field against developed countries.”  

He stressed that “biotechnology is directly related to people’s lives and safety, and in particular, as it has a lot to do with ethical issues, it has many conservative and strong regulations compared to other sectors. Differing views on regulations are held by researchers, industrial circles, the government and the public. In advanced nations, citizens are actively engaged in the science and technology sector, working together to build a social consensus. The scientific circles should make an active approach to the public and accurately inform them about scientific technologies and enlist their help in preventing misuse.”

The National Biotechnology Policy Research Center under KRIBB operates a “Bio-Regulation Petition System” under which petitions are filed regarding regulations that needs to be urgently addressed for the research field and industrial circles and the petitions are passed on to the government. Mr. Kim said, “I think that KRIBB should serve as a lever to ease regulations while developing and promoting new, innovative technology and, in this process, enhance the understanding of the government, industrial circles and the public regarding the technology. In this regard, KRIBB will reinforce its promotional programs for the public to create a national consensus and facilitate communications in the biotech sector.”

◆ Tailored support for the growth of biotech start-ups 
 

 

Mr.Kim said he will create an ecosystem to support startups on a regular basis, while supporting an environment where value-added technology development can take place.
Mr.Kim said he will create an ecosystem to support startups on a regular basis, while supporting an environment where value-added technology development can take place.
“The biotech industry, due to its nature, requires a sizable infrastructure and extensive research equipment. This is reason KRIBB is open to cash-strapped start-ups residing in the institute’s Bio Venture Center and being provided access to research equipment. We are committed to advancing the equipment and supporting start-ups through their life cycle from preparation until their establishment in collaboration with local government and universities.” 

Mr. Kim also emphasized life cycle support for biotech start-ups as a key role for KRIBB. KRIBB shall be able to enhance the competitiveness of start-ups to the global level by offering support including infrastructure and capacity-building throughout their life cycle from the transfer of technologies developed at KRIBB all the way to commercialization. 

Since 2000, KRIBB has operated the Start-ups Incubation Center and supported 88 firms up to now. Out of those firms nurtured, some have been listed on KOSDAQ (13 firms) and KONEX (2 firms), receiving credit for their technical prowess. While running a mentoring group for biotech investments, KRIBB has supported companies in garnering investments, helping 13 companies to succeed in securing investments totaling 70 billion KRW. 

In particular, KRIBB has reinforced its role as a booster platform for biotech start-ups, with a life-cycle support from the verification of new business ideas and business planning to entrance into the global clinical market after establishment and has been credited as a catalyst for biotech start-ups.

Now, his eyes are on biotech start-ups penetrating into the global market. He pointed out, “We have mentioned global penetration a lot, but it is true that we have not exerted much effort to make inroads into the global market. Following my visit to Boston with the mayor of Daejeon city last April, we put our heads together with people in all walks of life to establish a communication channel with local networks. We are contemplating a strategy to build a world-class start-up incubation institute in Daejeon just like LabCentral in Boston.” 

He went on to say “The biotech clusters located in Daejeon, Hongneung, Magok, Pangyo, Osong, Daegu and Wonju all have their own unique features and Daejeon is home to many universities, biotech-related large hospitals and KRIBB where a lot of discovery activities are taking place. In this sense, Daejeon is expected to further utilize the advantages of its specialized discovery ecosystem, such as providing testing grounds where good ideas can be shifted into commercialization though concept verification in a short period of time.”

◆ “Laying the foundation for the opening of bio-economic era, rather than pursuing short-term success”

“Research activities are what will make or break a state-funded research institute. What I would like to create is a system the creates good seeds to usher in the bio-economic era in South Korea from a long-term perspective, rather than simply going after short-term research outcome.”

Mr. Kim used to work at a private research institute in a biotech-related field before KRIBB. Asked about the difference between a corporation and a state-funded research institute, he explained, “Since a corporation has a clear goal to create profits, it spends most of its research costs in an area which is regarded as lucrative and its capacities are evaluated in terms of whether it achieves the goal. On the other hand, as a state-funded research institute is established for the benefit of the nation and its people, it strives to create an ecosystem for science and technology and advance the nation’s scientific technology, not to create profits. In this sense, it is necessary for KRIBB to become a partner conducive to the support of universities or companies, connecting them with good ideas or serving as a catalyst to spur commercialization.”   

He added, “A state-funded research institute should create a large-scale research outcome by pursuing mid- and long-term collective research rather than individual research activities. It shall be also able to lay a foundation for human resources and the infrastructure needed for mid- and long-term research.” 

Having said that, he also expressed KRIBB’s ambition to open up a path toward a research culture that can lead to global outcomes rather than quick results. 

Mr. Kim also revealed his future plans, saying, “Research in the biotech sector is time-consuming and has a lot of risks along the way. Ten or fifteen years of time shall be granted for research to go through. For this, research culture is also crucial. People should also change their perceptions. I would like to help KRIBB to fulfill all of its roles and responsibilities by mustering up many people’s ideas and bringing them to cooperate with each other from a long-term perspective, rather than simply going after quick fixes that simply scratch the surface during the short period of my three-year term at KRIBB.”

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