The 2026 Gyeongbuk Bio Industry Expo officially commenced its three-day run on September 10 at the auxiliary stadium of the Andong Gymnasium, bringing together prominent figures, researchers, and industry leaders to chart the future of South Korea's bio-industry. Marking its fifth anniversary this year, the expo is co-hosted by Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and the City of Andong, and organized by the Gyeongbuk Bio Industry Research Institute. Under the main theme "Gyeongbuk Unlocking the Future of Advanced Bio," the event spans across the Andong Gymnasium, Andong Arts Center, and the Andong Youth Culture Center, serving as a comprehensive platform for cutting-edge technological exchange, business matching, and public engagement.

The grand opening ceremony drew around 100 key dignitaries and experts, including Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Cheol-woo, Andong Mayor Kwon Ki-chang, local council members, and international bio-specialists. The highlight of the opening event was a visionary keynote speech delivered by Professor Sang Yup Lee, Distinguished Professor at KAIST and former Vice Chairperson of the National Bio Committee. Speaking under the theme "Systems Metabolic Engineering Enabling Bio-Manufacturing," Professor Lee emphasized the critical role of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology in revolutionizing sustainable manufacturing processes and addressing global resource challenges.

Following the opening ceremony, officials and distinguished guests participated in a guided tour of the exhibition pavilions. The exhibition floor features joint promotional halls by Gyeongsangbuk-do and Andong, alongside specialized booths operated by 77 leading corporations and institutions. Notable participants include SK Bioscience showcasing vaccine innovations, Tribos focusing on cell culture technologies, Biosolution highlighting advanced regenerative medicine, SilicoBio presenting breakthroughs in synthetic biology, Neoken Bio exhibiting hemp-derived bio-materials, and the Gyeongbuk IT Convergence Industry Technology Institute displaying beauty-bio applications.

To maximize commercial and economic impact, the expo operates active business programs throughout the event duration. These include AI-driven buyer export consultation sessions as well as dedicated procurement and investment forums designed to connect promising bio-ventures with global markets and venture capitals.

A core pillar of the 2026 expo is its academic depth, driven by specialized conferences across six vital bio-sectors. These sessions cover Advanced Regenerative Medicine hosted by the Animal Cell Industry Support Center, Vaccines co-organized by the Gyeongbuk Bio Industry Research Institute and Kyungpook National University, Cell Cultures led by the Yeungnam University Cell Culture Research Institute, Beauty products managed by the Gyeongbuk IT Convergence Industry Technology Institute, Hemp and Natural Products by the Gyeongbuk Bio Industry Research Institute, and Synthetic Biology headed by KAIST. Furthermore, an employment fair organized in cooperation with the Andong branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor provides customized job matching services, linking major bio-pharmaceutical employers such as Biosolution and SK Plasma with talented regional job seekers. 

Governor Lee Cheol-woo underscored the strategic significance of the event, stating that the expo clearly demonstrates the competitive edge of the Gyeongbuk-style bio and new drug value chain, which seamlessly links Andong’s robust vaccine and commercialization infrastructure with Pohang’s advanced R&D capabilities. He further added that Gyeongsangbuk-do, which historically spearheaded South Korea's industrialization through steel and electronics, is now firmly establishing a powerful new growth engine for the nation's advanced bio-industry centered around the Gyeongbuk Bio-Vaccine Specialized Complex and National Industrial Complex.