Geneva, 6 January 2026
The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) welcomes the Republic of Korea’s adoption of its National AI-Bio Strategy on December 18, 2025, a landmark policy framework approved at the Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology that positions Korea at the forefront of next-generation AI-applied biotechnology and reinforces the country’s ambition to lead in global competition for this critical sector.
IBBIS particularly commends the Strategy’s explicit recognition of synthetic biology as a core pillar of future innovation. By establishing a comprehensive roadmap that integrates artificial intelligence with advanced biotechnology (including initiatives to develop proprietary AI models, build regional hub towns, and promote the accumulation and use of biomedical data), the Strategy demonstrates a forward-looking understanding of the transformative potential of digital-bio convergence for biomanufacturing, health, sustainability, and economic growth. The Strategy comes at a pivotal moment when AI-driven tools are fundamentally reshaping biological discovery and engineering, with machine learning platforms accelerating bioengineering workflows and unlocking breakthrough innovations in medicine, agriculture, and sustainable manufacturing.
The Strategy’s mission-oriented approach, developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) in coordination with the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology, sends a strong signal of Korea’s ambition to secure “super-gap” technologies while fostering world-class research ecosystems. Its emphasis on AI-enabled synthetic biology, automation, and large-scale biomanufacturing efficiency reflects global best practice and places Korea among the most proactive nations shaping the future of advanced biotechnology. Korea has demonstrated tangible commitment through its 2025 budget allocation, which doubles investment in strategic technologies including biotechnology, with substantial resources dedicated to securing core capabilities in synthetic biology – encompassing the design, synthesis, and high-speed screening of biological components.
IBBIS also welcomes the Strategy’s acknowledgement that emerging biotechnologies, particularly synthetic biology, carry important biosecurity and biosafety considerations alongside their scientific and economic promise. As access to powerful biological design, synthesis, and automation tools expands, integrating responsible governance, risk-mitigation measures, and international norms into national strategies is essential for sustainable innovation. The increasing accessibility of these technologies (from desktop DNA sequencers to AI-powered protein design platforms) requires robust oversight mechanisms to prevent accidental or deliberate misuse while preserving the momentum of beneficial scientific progress.
In this spirit, IBBIS stands ready to support the Republic of Korea in the implementation of the National AI-Bio Strategy, including through collaboration on biosecurity-by-design approaches, international standards for nucleic acid synthesis and screening, and alignment with emerging global best practices at the interface of AI and synthetic biology. IBBIS looks forward to constructive engagement with Korean institutions, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to help ensure that advances in synthetic biology are both transformative and secure.
“The Republic of Korea’s National AI-Bio Strategy is a powerful example of how countries can simultaneously pursue technological leadership and responsible innovation,” said Sophie Peresson, International Standards Lead at IBBIS. “By explicitly elevating synthetic biology within a national AI and advanced biotechnology strategy, Korea is setting a benchmark for integrated, future-oriented governance. We are enthusiastic about working together to translate this vision into safe, secure, and globally trusted implementation.”
For more information about IBBIS engagement with the Republic of Korea contact Sophie Peresson at sophie@ibbis.bio