The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW) and the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing Support Foundation (GTHB-SF), held the GTHB-SF launch ceremony at Yonsei University's International Campus in Songdo, Incheon, South Korea, this week.

To enhance biomanufacturing capabilities for vaccines and biopharmaceuticals in low- and middle-income countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially designated Korea in February 2022 as the world’s sole Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing.

Since then, the MoHW, in partnership with the WHO, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), has been training over 500 biomanufacturing professionals annually from low- and middle-income countries. This initiative plays a crucial role in promoting vaccine self-sufficiency in these regions, contributing to a safer and healthier future.

This year marks the third anniversary of the Training Hub. To fulfill the international commitment to train over 2,000 individuals annually, the Global Bio Campus, a dedicated facility for the Training Hub, is currently under construction in Songdo, Incheon, and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. To ensure effective management of the Hub, the private-sector-led GTHB-SF was established, accelerating the structured development of biomanufacturing workforce.

GTHB-SF is a non-profit foundation established on May 21, 2024, under the Civil Act, with the approval of the MoHW, and is headquartered at Yonsei University's International Campus. Moving forward, GTHB-SF will play a pivotal role in supporting the Training Hub, working closely with international organisations such as the WHO to bolster Korea’s global presence in public health.

Additionally, GTHB-SF will collaborate with five institutions designated as regional or network campuses of the Global Bio Campus. In addition to foundational theory and practical training, these institutions will develop a variety of educational programmes, including advanced courses, instructor training, internships in collaboration with Korean companies, and university-linked degree programmes. GTHB-SF also plans to offer policy consulting and customised education to meet the diverse needs and infrastructure capacities of low- and middle-income countries, including online training programmes.