BIO.NRW Company Delegation Explores Southeast Asian Life Science Markets – Insights from Singapore and Malaysia

In September 2025, BIO.NRW organized a targeted company delegation trip to Singapore and Malaysia, aiming to strengthen international ties and explore new market opportunities for North Rhine-Westphalia’s life science sector. The journey brought together innovative biotech SMEs, research institutions, and network representatives to engage with key players in Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing bioeconomy and healthcare industries.

The trip was jointly organized by BIO.NRW and NRW.Global Business, with additional support from BIO Clustermanagement NRW GmbH, ensuring a well-curated program and strategic access to regional stakeholders. The biotech business delegation was also accompanied by a political delegation from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MWIKE), underlining the strategic importance of the region and the commitment to fostering international cooperation.

Singapore: Gateway to Asia’s Biomedical Hub The delegation began its visit in Singapore, where a curated program included site visits to Biopolis, Singapore’s leading biomedical research and development hub, and meetings with local biotech startups, accelerators, and government agencies followed. Delegates had the opportunity to engage directly with companies such as EVONIK and accelerators as co11ab, gaining insights into their innovation strategies and regional activities.

A particular highlight of the Singapore leg was the Asia Bio Partnering Forum, where delegates participated in structured partnering sessions and informal networking with regional and international stakeholders. Many participants were able to establish valuable business contacts and explore concrete collaboration opportunities, underscoring the relevance of Southeast Asia as a dynamic and innovation-driven market.

Malaysia: Emerging Opportunities in Health and Bioeconomy The second leg of the trip led the delegation to Kuala Lumpur, where discussions focused on Malaysia’s national bioeconomy roadmap, investment incentives, and growing demand for biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and sustainable biotech solutions.

Delegates met with leading Malaysian companies such as Duopharma Biotech and CytoMed, and explored potential synergies in areas ranging from biosimilars to cell therapy. The visit also included the NRW–Malaysian Biotech Business Forum, where the delegation had the opportunity to meet directly with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and the Malaysian Bioeconomy Corporation, fostering dialogue on future cooperation between Malaysia and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Picture: Visit at Evonik Singapore