The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that on the 21st,
it held the "Global Innovation Zone Launch Ceremony" at the Lotte
Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, with representatives from local governments,
industry-academia-research (IAR) institutions, and special zone companies.
NKCL Bio Group, a company specializing in NK cell therapy
research and development, is participating as an 'anchor company' in the
Advanced Regenerative Bio Global Innovation Zone project in Osong, Chungbuk. An
'anchor company' is a company that plays a leading role in specific industries
or regional projects such as special zones. Typically, it refers to a company
with high market share or strong technological and capital capabilities,
positively impacting the local community.
This year, the government designated Busan, Gangwon,
Chungbuk, and Jeonnam as four global innovation zones. Chungbuk is expected to
specialize in the bio sector, with NKCL Bio Group at the forefront as the
anchor company.
At the event held at the Lotte Hotel, NKCL Bio Group
showcased the 'RK-NKTM ACS I', a single-use NK cell automatic culture system.
Additionally, Minister of SMEs and Startups Oh Young-joo and other key guests
were introduced to NKCL Bio Group's technological prowess and competitiveness.
The 'RK-NKTM ACS I' is an NK cell automatic culture system utilizing robotics,
capable of single-use, one-person automatic culture and storage monitored by an
AI-driven algorithm.
Shin Dong-hwa, CEO of NKCL Bio Group, who introduced the
single-use NK cell automatic culture system, stated, "We plan to
contribute to the expansion of the cell therapy market based on the advanced
bio NK cell automatic culture system's technological capabilities in the
Chungbuk Global Innovation Zone," and emphasized, "We will thoroughly
prepare for the necessity of systematizing cell culture and the expansion of
the cell culture market."
Kim Myung-kyu, Deputy Governor of Chungbuk, is having a
discussion with representatives from local governments, IAR institutions, and
special zone companies. Additionally, during a discussion with Kim Myung-kyu
and others, CEO Shin emphasized, "To prevent our country from losing its
leadership in the bio industry to China in the future, more proactive interest
and support from the central government and regulatory relaxation are
needed," and added, "When applying regulations, if we subdivide items
more meticulously and implement them step by step, sequentially, we can
sufficiently eliminate the risks that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and
the Ministry of Health and Welfare are concerned about."
After reviewing NKCL Bio Group's technology, Minister of SMEs
and Startups Oh Young-joo urged, "Please actively engage in the current
innovation zone project with the mindset of creating a new history in the
challenging bio field."
Meanwhile, the global innovation zones will adopt a 'negative
regulation' approach, allowing the demonstration of new technologies in
principle as long as they are not prohibited by law, even if standards and
specifications are not established. President Yoon Suk-yeol also stated at the
Chungcheongbuk-do Livelihood Forum on March 26, "Through regulatory
exemptions and financial support, we will enable hospitals and companies in the
special zones to use advanced regenerative medicine more freely and quickly for
patient treatment."
https://www.donga.com/news/Economy/article/all/20240522/125055924/1
