Incheon-Yonsei Univ likely to win state-funded bioprocessing training center project

A state-funded project to foster bioprocessing professionals is likely to be awarded to the Incheon City-Yonsei University consortium.

According to sources on Sunday, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced their interim evaluation results last week, which gave higher scores to the consortium over rivals.

A final winner will be determined after due diligence, but the top-ranking bidder is the most likely to win the deal, sources said.

The ministries have yet to determine the date for due diligence which was delayed from Aug. 28 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which means a final announcement will be affected.

The government invited potential bidders to the project, which was announced on July 13, to implement a plan to train people who will work to support production of biopharmaceuticals and market expansion under its vision to make the country a biotech powerhouse. The project was inspired by the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), Ireland’s global center of excellence for training and research in bioprocessing

The government plans to inject over 60.9 billion won ($51.2 million) into the project, which breaks down to a state grant of 52.8 billion won and 9.1 billion won coming in a matching fund from a local government.

The project attracted the Incheon City-Yonsei University consortium and two other bidders, Gyeonggi Province-Seoul National University and Chungbuk Province-Chungbuk National University teams.

The Incheon City-Yonsei University consortium has been regarded as the most potential bidder for the proximity to Songdo, home to manufacturing bases of drug majors of Samsung Biologics and Celltrion. The location can be linked to hiring of trainees at the bioprocessing training center based on the actual bio-industry value chain.

In addition, the consortium partners vowed to add more than 40 billion won from their own pocket to the center.

The Gyeonggi Province-Seoul National University consortium focused on the competence and development potential of the center operator, arguing the core issue of the project is not the location of the company, but rather education. The Chungbuk Province-Chungbuk National University consortium stressed the advantage specialized in the biotech field, but they failed to win judges over the decision, sources said.

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