Korean biotech startups target Japan with K-Startup BIO pavilion at Bio JAPAN 2026

Promising South Korean biotech startups are using Japan as a springboard to break into global markets, showcasing new drug candidates and innovative biotech technologies to pursue joint research, technology transfers and investment opportunities with global pharmaceutical and biotech firms.

The Korea Institute of Toxicology said it is participating in Bio JAPAN 2026, held Wednesday through Friday at Pacifico Yokohama in Japan, to support the overseas expansion and commercialization of promising domestic biotech companies.

Bio JAPAN is Asia's leading biotech partnering event, organized by the Japan Bioindustry Association and others, bringing together global pharmaceutical and biotech companies, investors and research institutions to explore technology exchange and business cooperation. Last year's event drew 1,568 companies and more than 22,000 participants.

KIT, the lead agency for the biohealth sector under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' "Dominant Innovation Pioneer Startup" project, is operating the joint K-Startup BIO pavilion at the event. The institute plans to introduce the technologies of promising domestic biotech companies to global firms and investors, and to boost their overseas commercialization prospects through one-on-one partnering sessions.

A highlight of KIT's participation is a Korea-Japan biotech collaboration seminar aimed at exploring ways for the two countries to strengthen ties in the biotech industry. The seminar will analyze China's rapid rise in the global pharmaceutical and biotech market and discuss cooperative strategies through which South Korea and Japan can sharpen their global technological competitiveness.

KIT will also hold IR sessions to introduce the technologies of domestic biotech companies, with the aim of translating those presentations into concrete partnerships — including joint research and technology transfers — with Japanese firms. Global mentoring will be offered alongside the sessions to strengthen participating companies' overseas commercialization capabilities.

KIT has served as the lead agency for the DIPS biohealth sector since 2022, carrying out new drug candidate analysis, toxicity testing, global regulatory consulting, and domestic and international mentoring and commercialization support.

"We will actively support promising domestic biotech companies so that their excellent technologies can translate into tangible overseas cooperation and commercialization results," said Heo Jeong-du, director of KIT.