BIX 2026 Closes with More than 300 Companies from 36 Countries, Expanding Global Collaboration

[Financial News] BioPlus-Interphex Korea 2026 (BIX 2026), Korea’s largest bioindustry exhibition, has wrapped up its three-day run. This year, the number of participating countries rose substantially from last year, while participation by overseas government agencies and companies, including those from Canada and China, expanded. The event provided a venue for Korean biotech companies to explore opportunities for global collaboration and exports.
The Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KBIO) said on the 30th that more than 300 companies from 36 countries took part in BIX 2026, held at COEX in Seoul from the 28th to the 30th, with an exhibition spanning 600 booths. The number of participating countries rose to 36 this year from 14 last year, and about 12,000 people visited the venue over the three days. At 30 conference sessions featuring around 90 Korean and international speakers, participants discussed technology and commercialization strategies, including artificial intelligence (AI) drug development, radiopharmaceuticals (RPT), the market following obesity treatments, and biotech investment and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
Canada, this year’s featured country, sent a delegation comprising government and industry representatives and more than 30 biotech and healthcare companies. The Canada Pavilion introduced local companies’ technologies and business models, as well as provincial R&D infrastructure and support for businesses, and discussed possibilities for joint research, investment and market entry with Korean companies. KBIO and BIOTECanada also signed a memorandum of understanding to expand opportunities for joint investment and development among their member companies.
Chinese government agencies and buyers also took part. At a Korea-China bioindustry exchange and an export purchasing matchmaking event involving an agency under China’s Ministry of Commerce, individual consultations were held between Korean companies in biotech materials, parts and equipment and Chinese buyers. Dongshin Gwan-yuri Gong-eop, CellSafe and Umteul, among others, introduced their products and technologies to local companies and discussed purchasing terms and potential applications.
“Food as Medicine,” which combines food and biotechnology, was also a key agenda item. Discussions ranged from functional ingredients, precision nutrition and the development of future foods to the regulatory and investment environment and commercialization strategies.
KBIO plans to turn the overseas networks formed through this year’s event into follow-up joint projects and export contracts.

[email protected] Jeong Sang-hui Reporter