EMBASSY OF TI-IE REPUBLIC OF KOREA TALLINN

2026-KE-017

The Ernbassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of Estonia presents its cornplirnents to the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Estonia and has the honor to enclosc herewith a letter addressed to Her Excellency Karmen Joller, Minister of Social Affairs, cordially inviting her to attend the 5th World Bio Summit, to be hcld in Seoul on 2 1—22 October 2026.

The World Bio Summit was launched by the Republic of Korea in 2022 as a forum for discussing giobal cooperation in the bio-health sector, including equitable acccss to vaccines and therapeutics, with a view to sharing Korea’s experience in responding to COVID-19 and formulating effective, innovation-based strategies for future pandemic preparedncss.

The 5th World Bio Summit will broadcn the scope ofdiscussions beyond “Preparedness and Response to Future Pandernics” to include the ernerging theme of “Artificial Intelligence,” which is gaining increasing prorninence across econornic and social sectors, including healthcare.

The Ernbassy has the further honor to request that the Ministry kindly comrnunicate H. E.’s RSVP by ernail to the World Bio Summit Secretariat at [email protected] no later than 28 August 2026.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of Estonia avaus itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Estonia the assuranccs of its highest consideration.

Tallinn, 28 July 2026

cc: Ministry ofForeign Affairs of the Republic ofEstonia

Enclosures:

1. Letter of Invitation

2. Program Leafiet

s o ts ra a 1 min s tee r 1 u m SAABUNUD

20 a. Nr

Ministry of Health and Welfare

13, Doum 4-ro, Sejong-si, Repubhc of Korea 30113

Ms.Karmen Joller

Minister of Social Affairs

Republic of Estonia

July 23, 2026

Dear Ms.Karmen Joller,

Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (Al) have highlighted the need to harness these technologies to address healthcare disparities and tackle continuing challenges that have rernained

unresolved for decades. To this end, there is a growing need for Ieaders in the health and medical

sectors to corne together to discuss the future that Al innovation vill bring, the emerging biohealth

rnarkets that Al will create, and investment strategies to ensure the sustainable development ofAl

technologies.

The Ministiy of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea and the World Health Organization

(WHO) have been co-hosting the World Bio Summit annually since 2022. This year marks the 5t1

World Bio Summit, which will be held from 21 to 22 October 2026 in Seoul, Republic of Korea, and

to further elevate the Summit into a truly giobal platform capable ofleading the international biohealth

agenda — a “World Economic Forum for Biohealth”. The theme of this year’s Summit wiII be “Expanding Biohealth Innovation Through Al”, and the event will be held in conjunction with the 49th

IHF World Hospital Congress. In addition, the Ministiy of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea intends to announce the “AT Healthcare Seoul Declaration” together with WHO and the International Hospital Federation during the Summit.

Your vision for future technologies and insights in arnbitious policies shared at the World Bio Summit will drive health innovation for ali. 1 sincerely look forward to welcorning you in Seoul.

1 avail myself ofthis opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances ofmy highest consideration.

Sincerely yours,

Jeo b

Jeong, Eun Kyeong

Minister ofHealth and Welfare

Republic of Korea

WORLD BIO SUMMIT 2026

21-22 October 2026

Seoul, Republic of Korea

Background

With the aim of sharing its experience in responding to COVID-19 and devising effective strategies

for responding future pandemics based on technological innovation, the Republic of Korea hosted

the 1st World Bio Summit in 2022 to discuss giobal cooperation in the biohealth sector, including

equitable access to vaccines and treatments. The 5th World Bio Summit aims to shift the focus of

discussion beyond the agenda of “Preparedness and Response to Future Pandemics” to the

emerging agenda-”Artificial lntelligence”, which is gaining prominence across ali economic and

social sectors, including healthcare.

Al, which has recently experienced rapid development, is fundamentally transforming the growth

model of the biohealth industry—including pharmaceuticals and medical devices—across ali

sectors, from research and development to clinical trials and technology commercialization, moving

beyond its role as a mere auxiliary tool. Furthermore, countries are actively exploring the role of Al

in bridging healthcare disparities that exist within regions and between nations, as well as in solving

Iong-standing challenges. As Al establishes itself as a key element in creating new value and solving

complex challenges, it is now time to engage in in-depth deliberation on how to utilize Al ethically

and ensure that its benefits are equitably distributed, even to groups or nations that might

otherwise be excluded from these advantages. Bringing together international Ieaders and experts

in the healthcare sector to exchange views and share insights 15 a critical task we face as we enter

this era ofAl transformation.

Overview The Republic of Korea, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, will host the 5th World

Bio Summit in Seoul from October 21 to 22, 2026. HeId in conjunction with the 49th IHF World

Hospital Congress, this year’s Summit will serve as a forum for the exchange of cutting-edge

biohealth ideas and communication, bringing together Heads of States, Ministers of Health, leaders

of International Organizations and civil society groups, as weII as medical community, academia, and

executives from the biohealth companies and Al companies. The theme of this year’s World Bio

Summit is “Expanding Biohealth Innovation through Al.” Under this overarching theme, the Summit

will be structured around the forward-looking agenda “3 NEWS.” Specifically, these are: the future

brought about by Al innovation (Session 1), the biohealth market to be created by Al (Session 2),

and investment strategies for sustainable Al development (Session 3). The goal of this year’s Summit

is to foster a shared understanding of how Al is reshaping the science, markets, and finance of

biohealth, and to develop concrete models of cooperation for the equitable distribution of its benefits across the entire biohealth sector. Additionally, The Republic of Korea will jointly announce the “Seoul Declaration on Al Healthcare” with the International Hospital Federation and the WHO,

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pledging continued cooperation within the international community. The World Bio Summit, which

wilI serve as a forum for discussing the iatest heaithcare agendas—inciuding the Al transformation

and the elimination of heaithcare disparities—is expected to emerge as the platform which is

capable of leading the globai healthcare agenda.

Program at a glance (tentative)

O Title: Worid Bio Summit 2026 (WBS 2026)

O Host: Republic of Korea and World Health Organization (WHO)

O Date / Venue: 21-22 October, 2026 / Seoui, Republic of Korea

4 Theme: Expanding Biohealth Innovation Through Al

O Speakers and participants

O Heads of States and Health Ministers

O Heads of international organizations and private foundations

O Heads of international developmental banks

O Heads of giobal pharmaceuticai companies and Al companies

O Programs

O Opening Ceremony and Leaders’ Dialogue

O Announcement of “Al Healthcare Seoui Declaration”

O Welcome Reception and Dinner (A joint dinner with 1HF on Day 1)

O <Session 1> New Science: The Future Al Wiil Bring

O <Session 2> New Value: The Values Al Wiil Create

O <Session 3> New Finance: Biohealth Innovation Through Al-Based New Finance and

GIobal Partnerships

O Side Events

O Closing Ceremony

Contents of each session (tentative) Title New Science: The Future Al WilI Bring

Overview This session wiil discuss the future brought about by a new approach to science—Ai—in which researchers independentiy carry out the entire process, from hypothesis formulation to experimental design. It addresses key questions regarding how humanity wili utilize this innovative science to overcome Iong-standing chailenges, and how to

ession manage both its benefits and risks for the benefit of ali. Through this, we aim to contribute to the formation of a shared understanding within the international community to responsibly advance AI-based scientific

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discoveries and ensure that their benefits are equitably shared giobally. Session • Science reimagined by Al scientists Topics • Solutions to healthcare challenges using Al

O Strategies for the giobal dissemination of the benefits of Al

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innovation . Strategies for managing the side effects and risks of Al innovation

Title New Value: The Values Al WiII Create Overview This session provides a platform to explore the new value and innovative

changes that Al wiII bring to the biohealth industry as a whole. Al goes beyond being a mere technical tool; it is opening up new possibHities across the entire process of disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment care, and is transforming both the way healthcare services are delivered and the very structure of value creation within the medical industry. In particuIar AI-based healthcare, the development of new drugs and medical devices, and innovations in healthcare systems are accelerating the establishment of a more precise, efficient, and

Session sustainable healthcare system. 2 This session wiII focus on discussing the new value that Al creates for the

biohealth industry and how these changes can contribute to improving the quality of medical services, strengthening industrial competitiveness, and, ultimately, promoting human health. Through this discussion, we aim to explore ways in which AI-driven biohealth innovation can establish itself as a new paradigm for future healthcare and spread positive value throughout the gIoba healthcare ecosystem.

Session • AI-based innovation in healthcare Topics • AI-based innovation in development of new drugs and medical

devices . AI-based innovation in medical system (Al-native hospital)

Title New Finance: Biohealth Innovation Through AI-Based New Finance and Giobal Partnerships

Overview Advances in artificial intelligence (Al) technology are gaining attention as a key driver for solving complex challenges in the biohealth sector and promoting human health. Meanwhile, to achieve AI-driven innovation in biohealth, it is essential to expand high-quality data, address Al bias, accelerate interdisciplinary research that combines the strengths of nations and research entities, and develop strategies for applying Al to giobal public health. In other words, giobal collaborative research and

multifaceted funding strategies are more critical than ever for biohealth

ession innovation in the Al era. This session wiII share trends in cross-border public funding and open innovation for the development of Al and biohealth technologies, and wiII engage in an in-depth discussion on how to build a giobal investment ecosystem that accelerates the market entry and scaling up of innovative technologies.

Session • Future bioheafth innovation policies and their integration with Topics national R&D platforms

. Investment directions for biohealth Al R&D, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and giobal public health cooperation modeis

. AI-based giobal open innovation • Investment ecosystems in biohealth

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Timetable (tentative)

(5OO people)

10:00 (8:00”lO:OO)

Opening

Ceremony 10:00-

&AI 12:00

Decla ration (10:0012:00)

P re pa ratio n s for the event

Wendesday, 21 Oct

13:00- 14:00

14:00- 16:00

16:00- 18:00

Prepa ratio n s for the event

Side events Side events Session 1

(14:00’16:00)

Session 2 (16:0018:00)

Bilateral meetings

18:00-

20:00

Joint Dinner

WBS&IHF (18:30”ZO:OO)

08:00- 10:00

P re pa ratio n s for the event

P re pa ratio n s for the event

10:00- Rehearsal Session 3 12:00 (100cY”12:00) (1O:oO’12:OO)

Th u rsd ay, 22 Oct

12:00- 14:00

ioint Closing Ceremony WBS & IHF (12W13:O0)

14:00- 16:00

Side events

16:00- 18:00

Side events

Side events

18:00- 20:00

Bilateral meetings

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