2026 World Bio Summit Begins in Seoul

The 2026 World Bio Summit, which opened its doors in Seoul on October 21, 2026, discussed the role of artificial intelligence in pharmaceutical and healthcare research.

The 2026 World Bio Summit opened in Seoul, South Korea, on October 21, 2026, under the theme "Expanding Innovation in Biotechnology and Healthcare Through Artificial Intelligence." Bringing together government representatives, international organizations, scientists, and businesses, the event addressed AI's role in drug research, treatment development, and enhancing the efficiency of healthcare systems.

The meeting highlighted South Korea's approach of combining international cooperation with local capacity development rather than acquiring existing technological achievements directly. Under the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing (GTH-B), established in South Korea in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 4,000 trainees worldwide have been trained, according to a message from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

In the context of Vietnam, digital transformation steps in healthcare services are drawing attention. Prof. Dr. Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, stated that the cashless payment rate at the hospital exceeded 70% and that the VNeID-integrated Bach Mai Care application surpassed 1 million users. Furthermore, according to data from Vietnam Social Security, over 405.3 million card information searches were made via chip-based ID cards and the VNeID application in the first six months of 2026. Vietnam aims to gradually achieve self-reliance in biomedical technologies by utilizing international cooperation in line with Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo.