Press Release

Institut Pasteur Korea and the Institut Pasteur Open a New Chapter in Strategic Collaboration

2026-06-17

Institut Pasteur Korea and the Institut Pasteur Open a New Chapter in Strategic Collaboration
- New agreement and Scientific Liaison Committee to advance joint research and researcher exchange –

Sung Key Jang, CEO of Institut Pasteur Korea, and Odette Tomescu-Hatto, Executive Vice-President for International Affairs at the Institut Pasteur, pose for a commemorative photograph at the Joint Symposium celebrating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, held on June 5th.

(Jun. 17, 2026, Gyeonggi-do, Rep. of Korea) Institut Pasteur Korea (IPK) is strengthening its strategic partnership with the Institut Pasteur (IP) and expanding opportunities for international collaborative research.

Both institutions signed a new General Framework Cooperation Agreement during the jointly organized international symposium, “Crossroads of Basic and Translational Research in Biomedical Science,” held on 5 June 2026 in celebration of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France.

The agreement reaffirms their commitment to working in research and development, technological innovation, and education, together and with members of the Pasteur Network when possible.

The agreement includes a roadmap for collaboration in these areas and establishes a Scientific Liaison Committee, composed of three researchers from each institute, to further institutionalize and strengthen ongoing research collaborations. This Committee will serve as a platform for developing joint research initiatives and discussing operational and strategic plans, including exchange programs for researchers and students.

To put into action the commitments set forth in the agreement, IPK hosted a parallel Joint Research Collaboration Workshop to discuss ways to expand international collaborative research and establish a systematic framework for cooperation between IPK and IP.

The workshop was organized into three thematic areas: Immunology, Vaccines and Viruses; Parasites and Bacteria; and Technology. Principal investigators and researchers from both institutions shared updates on their ongoing research activities and core technological capabilities. They also explored potential collaborative research topics that could generate synergies between the two institutions and discussed plans for future cooperation.

Sung Key Jang, CEO of Institut Pasteur Korea, said, “This joint workshop and the signing of the new agreement mark a new starting point for our two institutions to jointly address future infectious disease threats, building on the trust and achievements we have accumulated over the years. Through the establishment of the Scientific Liaison Committee, we will work to create tangible outcomes from our cooperation.”

Dr Odette Tomescu-Hatto, Executive Vice-President of International Affairs, Institut Pasteur, said, “This renewed agreement is more than a formality — it is the foundation for a new phase of joint scientific work between our two institutions. The creation of a Scientific Liaison Committee will allow our researchers to jointly tackle critical challenges, from vaccine platforms to emerging infectious diseases. At a time when France and Korea celebrate 140 years of diplomatic ties, this partnership is a testament to what science and international cooperation can achieve.”

· About the Institut Pasteur
A non-profit foundation established in 1887 by Louis Pasteur, the Institut Pasteur is a world-class biomedical research center dedicated to studying and combating disease, particularly infectious diseases. From the invention of the rabies vaccine to the identification of HIV and the discovery of messenger RNA, some of the most significant breakthroughs in modern biomedical science were achieved here. The excellence of Pasteur’s research has been recognized with 10 Nobel Prizes in physiology or medicine. The Institut Pasteur employs more than 3,100 staff members representing nearly 100 nationalities, including 1,700 scientists and engineers. Its Paris campus hosts hundreds of researchers from other organizations, notably Inserm and the CNRS, and it collaborates with numerous leading international research institutions, including EMBL, the University of Oxford, the Francis Crick Institute, Rockefeller University and UCSF.
A member of a network of more than 30 institutes across five continents- the Pasteur Network- and host to nearly ten WHO Collaborating Centres, the Institut Pasteur works on the ground alongside communities to advance public health worldwide.

https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area

■ PRESS CONTACTS:
Institut Pasteur:
Press Office, Aurélie Perthuison – presse@pasteur.fr

· About the Institut Pasteur Korea
Institut Pasteur Korea (IPK) is an infectious disease-focused research institute established in April 2004 as part of the Korea–France scientific exchange initiative. IPK has advanced drug discovery and the development of vaccines and therapeutics, contributing to efforts against major infectious diseases, including tuberculosis and COVID-19.
Leveraging its advanced R&D capabilities, IPK provides cutting-edge technologies and expertise, including drug discovery screening platforms (HTS/HCS), to domestic and international biomedical communities, supporting translational research that bridges basic scientific discoveries and pharmaceutical development. Through collaborations with industry, academia, and research institutions worldwide, IPK utilizes key infrastructures such as its BSL-3-equipped Research Resource Center (RRC) and works closely with the Pasteur Network to advance global public health.
A member of the Pasteur Network, IPK contributes to drug discovery efforts in the Asia-Pacific region and supports global infectious disease preparedness and response.

https://www.ip-korea.org/community/list.php?gb=press

■ PRESS CONTACTS:
Institut Pasteur Korea
Project Management & Operation Office – publicrelations@ip-korea.org

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