IFEZ Journal

A New Platform Vision Driven by the Collaboration 

of K-BioX and IFEZ

K-BioX envisions a Global Bio Talent Hu anchored in Incheon, in collaboration with the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZ). As a global academic network, K-BioX connects scientists, entrepreneurs, and next-generation researchers worldwide, contributing to the progress of biotechnology through continuous communication and knowledge sharing. With the spotlight on potential bio platforms in the Incheon Free Economic Zone, we met with Siyeon Rhee, Ph.D., head of K-BioX at Stanford University, to discuss the significance of K-BioX and its vision for collaboration with IFEZ.

Siyeon Rhee, Ph.D.

• Instructor, Stanford Medicine

• Co-Founder & President, K-BioX (a global community of over 15,200 members)

Expertise

• Specialist in stem cell and multi-omics research

• Expert in biotechnology talent development and venture incubation

• Leader in establishing global R&D collaboration networks

You founded K-BioX and have been actively involved in its activities. Could you share the context behind its establishment and significance? 

K-BioX is a global academic network established jointly by nine researchers from Stanford and Berkeley. It organizes international academic summits and forums to facilitate exchanges among researchers worldwide, promoting global academic collaboration, while also offering mentoring and investment support to early-stage bio and healthcare startups. It also provides guidance, opportunities to participate in international research, and career development programs to nurture students into future leaders. When academic networks are closely integrated with industrial ecosystems, they can create significantly greater synergy. K-BioX has become a vital network platform for achieving excellent outcomes by linking more than 15,200 members globally, including scientists, entrepreneurs, and emerging researchers.

What motivated K-BioX to work with IFEZ, and how do you envision this partnership shaping the future of Incheon’s bio industry?

Partnering with IFEZ aligns perfectly with K-BioX’s vision and goals that I mentioned earlier. Songdo International City, recognized as Asia’s top bio-cluster, hosts many global pharmaceutical and biotech firms, positioning it for significant future growth. More than just an industrial cluster, Songdo, in particular, stands out as the perfect location to develop into a world-class bio-innovation hub, leveraging a collaborative ecosystem that unites industry, universities, research institutions, and government. As talented researchers and entrepreneurs are expected to gather in Incheon in the short term, the city is envisioned to emerge as a world-class bio-innovation hub and a sustainable global ecosystem over the long term.

What exactly is the Global Bio Talent Hub jointly envisioned by K-BioX and IFEZ, and what role is it expected to assume?

The Global Bio Talent Hub is an innovative platform that goes beyond the conventional boundaries of a mere R&D center. It is designed to fulfill three core functions. First, it will serve as a base for global mentoring and educational programs. By partnering with top-tier scholars and international research networks, the Hub aims to nurture the next generation of scientists and researchers into global leaders. Namely, it will offer a holistic program that goes beyond the transfer of academic knowledge, covering research ethics, entrepreneurial capacity, and opportunities for global collaboration. Second, it will serve as a platform that connects startup incubation with investment partnerships. For early-stage entrepreneurs based in Incheon, it will offer not just office space but an entire ecosystem linking them to global mentoring, funding support, and networks with multinational corporations and venture capital firms. This will help establish a foundation for transforming innovative ideas into viable businesses. Third, it will function as a hub for collaboration between industry and academic sectors. By combining K-BioX’s global research network with IFEZ’s local industrial network, it will foster cooperation between domestic and international researchers and companies. As a result, it will create a multi-layered collaborative structure that extends to joint research projects, technology transfer, and global funding partnerships.

Lastly, what is your ultimate goal with this initiative?

K-BioX has established strong partnerships with world-renowned universities and research institutes, including Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Rutgers, Utah, and Ghent. I believe that by linking these global networks with IFEZ, Incheon can become an innovation hub where global bio talent and technology come together. Moving forward, I aim to achieve tangible results, including recruiting and developing outstanding talent, fostering global startups, and accelerating the industrialization of innovative technologies.