Why Daejeon Is Gaining Attention as a Hub for Bio Research & Development

Daejeon is Korea’s premier science and research hub, boasting world-class research infrastructure centered on the Daedeok Research Complex. Home to approximately 70 research institutions and universities, including KAIST, Chungnam National University Hospital, and the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, the city has grown based on its accumulated expertise in biopharmaceuticals and advanced healthcare.

Currently, 28 of Daejeon’s 66 listed companies are biotech firms, confirming the city’s status as a specialized hub for bioresearch and development. Moreover, the market capitalization of Daejeon’s listed companies reached an all-time high of 63 trillion 357 billion won.

Thanks to this solid foundation, Daejeon was selected last year as a National Advanced Strategic Industry Bio-Specialized Complex, positioning it as a key hub to lead future bio-industries. Following the designation, approximately 50 companies, including leading Korean biotech firms such as Alteogen, LigaChem Biosciences, and Intocell, expressed interest in participating.

Daejeon City has announced plans to focus on research and development (R&D) with a strategy to nurture leading companies with breakthrough technologies and transform them into global big pharma.

However, some point out that delays in securing national funding have slowed the project’s initial progress. In response, Daejeon City is not waiting solely for specialized complex funding but is pursuing financial resources through its own budget and private investment. Recently, the city was also selected as a candidate site for the “Bio Global Innovation Zone,” which will open pathways to regulatory relief and institutional support. These combined efforts continue to strengthen the foundations of stable project implementation and global cooperation.

Through this specialized complex designation, Daejeon City aims to develop two innovative new drugs, expand global clinical trials, and create 40,000 jobs by 2032. This extends beyond simple industrial development, presenting a new growth model that integrates medical tourism with the biotechnology industry. Daejeon is poised to evolve from a science city into a global bio hub.

Other Article