On a crisp October morning at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, something unusual was happening. Korean and American voices filled the auditorium — not for a cultural event, but for a structured day of biotech matchmaking that would reshape how both sides think about cross-border innovation.
The inaugural Korean Bio Summit, organized by KCED (Korean Culture & Economic Development), brought together Korean biotech startups actively seeking US market entry with American venture capitalists, regulatory consultants, and commercialization strategists who understood what that journey demands.
The choice of venue was deliberate. Liberty Science Center sits at the heart of New Jersey's growing innovation corridor — the same state that houses the US headquarters of major pharmaceutical companies like Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and Novartis. For Korean biotech founders looking to understand the US regulatory landscape and investor ecosystem, there may be no better launchpad on the East Coast.
By the end of the day, the Summit had facilitated connections that would lead to over $12 million in follow-on venture activity. But the real value wasn't in the dollar figures — it was in the relationships formed between Korean innovation and American capital, relationships that will compound over years of collaboration.
The Korean Bio Summit is now an annual event. Planning for the 2026 edition is already underway, with an expanded program that will include deeper regulatory workshops, one-on-one investor meetings, and a dedicated track for AI healthcare companies bridging Korea and the US.
For Korean biotech, the message is clear: the door to the US market runs through New Jersey. And KORISE will be there to document every step of the journey.