Celltrion is stepping up efforts to identify and foster promising biotech startups in Japan. By combining the foundational research and technical capabilities of Japanese startups with Celltrion’s extensive expertise in research and development (R&D), regulatory approval, manufacturing, and global commercialization, the company aims to pursue joint research initiatives and discover next-generation drug candidates.
Celltrion announced on September 8 that it will officially launch the "2026 KBIC-Celltrion Global Scale-Up Program." The initiative began with an information session at the Nihonbashi Life Science Building in Tokyo, held in partnership with the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC).
Established in 1998, KBIC is Japan's largest biomedical cluster, hosting a vast network of medical-related companies and research institutes.
Celltrion highlighted that this initiative marks the first Korea-Japan public-private open innovation program jointly planned and operated with a Japanese biotech cluster, as well as the first such collaboration led by a Korean healthcare enterprise.
Applications will be accepted from September through December, followed by document screening and pitch evaluations, with two finalists slated for selection in March 2027. Eligible applicants include biotech startups possessing innovative technologies that align with Celltrion’s strategic focus areas, such as antibodies, peptides, small-molecule compounds, and anti-aging therapies. The selected companies will participate in a tailored incubation program throughout 2027 to strengthen their technical and business capabilities.
Drawing on more than two decades of accumulated industry experience, Celltrion plans to offer comprehensive mentorship and technical advisory support spanning pharmaceutical R&D, regulatory filings, manufacturing, and international commercialization. Additionally, Celltrion will tap into its collaborative network of government entities, academic-industry organizations, and venture capital firms to enhance the startups' global market prospects. Most notably, Celltrion intends to explore joint research opportunities with the selected companies to deliver tangible outcomes, including the integration of new pipeline assets.
KBIC will deliver customized acceleration programs for each startup through its operating organization, the Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe (FBRI). The cluster plans to match each startup with experts across various fields—including R&D, intellectual property rights, fundraising, and corporate strategy—while offering hands-on consulting services.
Furthermore, both organizations plan to provide investor relations opportunities, including one-on-one meetings with South Korean investment institutions and dedicated demo days. The objective is to ensure that promising scientific discoveries do not remain confined to the research stage, but successfully progress toward commercialization and global market entry.
"This program will serve as a collaborative model that drives the growth of promising biotech startups by combining the complementary strengths of South Korea and Japan," a Celltrion official said.
