- Agreement signed to foster talent in the bio-industry... intending to continue cooperation to provide practical experience

 ▲ A commemorative photograph featuring officials from Honam University and the Microbial Verification Support Center

PCMO (Director Min Jo) and the Clinical Pathology Department of Honam University (President Sang-Cheol Park) announced on April 5th the signing of a business agreement (MOU) with the goal of promoting the bio-industry and fostering specialized manpower.

The agreement focuses on sharing information in the biopharmaceutical industry in which both institutions are involved and fostering specialized manpower tailored to the demands of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. To achieve this, the two institutions plan to actively cooperate on industry trends and information sharing, joint utilization of research and education infrastructure, development and operation of internship programs to enhance practical skills, and collaborative research related to the "30 Glocal Universities" project.

The event for the signing of the business cooperation agreement was attended by key figures including President Sang-Cheol Park of Honam University, the Dean of the College of Health Sciences, the Director of the Industry-Academia Cooperation Division, the Director of the Start-up Support Team, as well as Yu-Ji Jang, the head of the Clinical Pathology Department, and Min Jo, the Director of PCMO.

 ▲ Center Director Min Jo and President Sang-Cheol Park introducing the center's facilities

Government officials have shown high interest in fostering bio-talent for quite some time. Jeollanam-do and Hwasun-gun have been strengthening collaboration between academia and industry within the Hwasun Vaccine Industry Special Zone, centered around the Jeollanam-do Bio-Industry Promotion Institute, to establish a "WHO Global Bio-Campus." This business agreement between Honam University and the center can also be seen as part of the efforts to establish the bio-campus.

The focal point of this agreement, the Clinical Pathology Department of Honam University, was established in 2021 and has already been actively involved, achieving notable successes such as winning the top award at the "Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology Student Forum" and presenting research on kimchi probiotics for obesity prevention. Additionally, the curriculum offers significant merits for acquiring essential knowledge in clinical trials related to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

PCMO was established in 2017 through the "Vaccine Global Industrialization Base Establishment Project" by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Jeollanam-do, and has been actively operating, including producing samples for COVID-19 clinical trials. Its services include contract development and manufacturing (CDMO), production of cell banks (MCB/WCB), and process development to support companies.

Recently, the center has been conducting the "Vaccine Industry Specialized Manpower Development Project" commissioned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Jeollanam-do from 2023 onwards to foster talent tailored to the needs of the bio-industry. It plans to graduate over 100 education participants by the end of this year and aims to complete construction of an education and dormitory facility by 2025 to operate formal education programs.