• 41 Professionals from 18 LMICs Complete Vaccine & Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Training
• Partnership Forum Held with Korean Bio-Pharma Industry to Explore Opportunities for Collaboration in Tech Transfer, Workforce Development, and Local Production
The RIGHT Foundation and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) hosted the ‘2026 ADB-RIGHT Vaccine Manufacturing Training Completion Ceremony & Partnership Forum’ at Yonsei University International Campus on August 14.
While celebrating the completion of the training program, the event was designed to translate the networks established during the training into actionable collaborations with the Korean bio-pharma industry.
The ceremony was attended by around 80 participants, including representatives from the Foundation, ADB, the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), and Korean bio companies such as SK bioscience, GC Biopharma, and EuBiologics, along with trainees from 18 LMICs.
The Foundation launched its Training Award in 2022 to develop skilled human capital in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing in LMICs, and the first cohort of 41 trainees completed their training in 2024. Under the second Training Award announced in 2025, the Foundation expanded the number of participating countries and the scope of support through its collaboration with ADB.
The second training program brought together 41 professionals working in vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturing from 18 LMICs, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
Trainees completed four weeks of theoretical education on vaccine and biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing processes from May 1 to May 29. Starting in July, they enhanced their expertise and practical skills through five weeks of hands-on training in core manufacturing processes, including upstream, downstream, fill-and-finish, and analytical testing, along with visits to Korean bio-pharmaceutical companies and research institutes.
Minwon Lee, Executive Director of the RIGHT Foundation, said, “Strong manufacturing capacity and a skilled workforce are essential, but it is also important that the networks built through the training lead to actual collaboration. Through this year’s Partnership Forum, we hope to create concrete opportunities for future collaboration by connecting trainees and Korean companies and bringing together the needs of each country with Korea’s experience and capabilities.”
At the Partnership Forum, held under the theme of ‘Building the Regional Vaccine Manufacturing Ecosystem’, participants discussed measures to reinforce the vaccine manufacturing base through vaccine demand, investment, technology transfer, workforce development, and local production.
During the subsequent networking session, trainees and representatives from Korean companies shared their countries’ vaccine manufacturing landscape and needs and explored opportunities for future collaboration. In particular, dedicated face-to-face sessions between trainees from each country and company representatives provided an opportunity to build on the networks established through the training and explore future technology transfer and collaboration.
Going forward, the Foundation, in partnership with ADB, will continue to support the training of vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturing experts in LMICs. It also plans to expand opportunities for collaboration so that the domestic and international networks established through the training can lead to technology transfers and the sustainable strengthening of vaccine manufacturing capacity.