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From Observing Life Phenomena to Creation: Pioneering a New Future in Advanced Biotechnology

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- The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announces the "Top 10 Promising Biotechnologies of 2025," highlighting AI convergence.

- Selected technologies include the human immunome, AI-designed gene editors, motile living biobots, and bio foundation models, among others.


The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Yoo Sang-im, hereinafter referred to as "MSIT") and the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (President Kim Jang-seong, hereinafter referred to as "KRIBB") have announced the "Top 10 Promising Biotechnologies of 2025" (hereinafter referred to as "Promising Biotechnologies"), presenting a vision for the future of life sciences.


MSIT and KRIBB have been identifying future-promising technologies in the field of advanced biotechnology, one of the three key game-changing technological areas, since 2015. Unlike major domestic and international institutions that release future technology trends across all scientific disciplines, this selection process is specialized for bio through a dedicated identification procedure.* Experts from industry, academia, research, and the medical field, as well as the general public with an interest in bio, can participate in the selection process through the BioIN policy portal site (www.bioin.or.kr).

* To ensure objectivity and accuracy, the selection process utilizes data analysis results from the "Weak Signal" detection model (which identifies emerging technology keywords through academic big data analysis) in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI).


The Promising Biotechnologies are expected to be realized technologically or industrially within the next 5 to 10 years and are anticipated to have significant technological and industrial ripple effects beyond the field of advanced biotechnology. This year’s Top 10 Promising Biotechnologies include the human immunome, AI-designed gene editors, motile living biobots, and bio foundation models, among others.


Category

Technology

Observation/Analysis (Read)

Human immunome

Multi-cancer early detection

RNA structurome

Editing/Reprogramming (Edit)

AI-designed gene editors

Anti-aging antibodies

Molecular glue

Emulation/Synthesis (Write)

Motile living biobots

Digital artificial organs

Prediction/Simulation (Imagine)

Bio foundation model

Healthcare digital twin



















* For further details, refer to BioIN (www.bioin.or.kr). 


According to the 2025 Bio Emerging Technologies analysis, life science research is expected to transition from repetitive experiments and observations to a data-driven approach integrating artificial intelligence (AI) for prediction and inference. As vast amounts of data are generated across each category—"Observation/Analysis (Read), Editing/Reprogramming (Edit), Mimicry/Synthesis (Write), and Prediction/Simulation (Imagine)"—these will be organically connected through AI, significantly accelerating and innovating the discovery and development cycle.


The human immunome and motile living biobots are projected to have extensive technological ripple effects across various industries, while multi-cancer early detection, anti-aging antibody therapies, and the bio foundation model are expected to meet high industrial demand. In particular, AI-designed gene editors have been analyzed to have both strong technological and industrial impact.


In the Observation/Analysis (Read) category, the "Human Immunome" has been selected. This technology is based on high-resolution measurement of the human immune system and is expected to enhance human immunity by the establishment of an international immunological database and the development of AI-based immune system models. Notably, real-time analysis of immune data from vaccine recipients can help predict defense responses against pathogens, significantly contributing to the prevention of rapidly spreading infectious diseases like COVID-19.


The "AI-designed Gene Editors", selected in the Editing/Reprogramming (Edit) category, are related to CRISPR* gene-editing technology, which won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and has demonstrated wide applications in gene therapy, molecular breeding, and synthetic biology. By leveraging AI to design highly efficient and safe gene editors, this technology is expected to overcome existing limitations and expand applications in precision biology, agriculture, and manufacturing.

* CRISPR: A bacterial immune system that recognizes and destroys viral genetic material, repurposed as a genome-editing tool.


In the Emulation/Synthesis (Write) category, "Motile Living Biobots" have been selected. This bio robotics technology utilizes precursor cells from various tissues to enable self-propelled movement, with potential applications in clearing arterial blockages or targeted drug delivery. Furthermore, its applications are expected to extend to bioengineering for sustainable construction and space exploration.


Earlier this year, global semiconductor company NVIDIA introduced BioNEMO, a generative AI model for drug discovery, marking a significant milestone in the development of bio foundation models. The "Bio Foundation Model," selected in the Prediction/Simulation (Imagine) category, is gaining attention as an innovative system that learns from large-scale bio data, such as single-cell transcriptomics, to predict and infer new biological principles through AI-driven simulation. Beyond drug discovery, this technology is expected to shift the research paradigm toward data-driven scientific exploration, positioning itself as a core technology for the future of bio R&D.


This announcement of the 2025 Promising Biotechnologies is expected to provide the public with a clearer vision of the future of biotechnology, while offering academia and industry professionals an opportunity to share the latest research trends and groundbreaking technologies, fostering collaboration and investment in R&D.


Additionally, the government plans to analyze recent bio R&D initiatives to identify gaps related to promising technologies and develop new national projects to nurture these fields. With the anticipated launch of the National Bio Committee—a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors to advance bio research— the government aims to strengthen end-to-end support for bio technologies, from systematic development to commercialization.


Hwang Pan-sik, Deputy Minister for the Office of R&D Policy at MSIT, stated,

"As biotechnology advances rapidly, we are now reaching the frontier of complex biological phenomena—once considered inaccessible. As the lead ministry in advanced biotechnology development, MSIT will continue identifying and promoting groundbreaking technologies, fostering a 'first-mover' R&D ecosystem to open new frontiers in advanced biotechnology."




For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT. 


Please refer to the attached PDF.

KOGL Korea Open Government License, BY Type 1 : Source Indication The works of the Ministry of Science and ICT can be used under the terms of "KOGL Type 1".
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