The South Koreans are way ahead in developing human embryonic stem cells to treat disease.
China meanwhile, which is now testing genetically engineered rice, looms as a threat to disrupt Monsanto Corp's broad grip on crop biotechnology if the world's most populous nation begins commercializing modified rice.
Stem cells and genetically altered crops are but two small sectors of the growing biotechnology industry, which remains overwhelmingly dominated by US companies and researchers.
Still, as 18,000 industry executives and scientists from around the globe began gathering in Philadelphia yesterday for the Biotechnology Industry Organization's (BIO) annual trade show, other countries are making significant inroads.
BIO anticipates some 6,000 attendees to be from outside the US for the the BIO 2005 Annual International Convention to be held until Wednesday in Philadelphia.
A South Korean delegation is expected at the convention to advertise Seoul's expanding biotech prowess. Sweden and Singapore are also sending delegations to boast of their openness to stem cell research.
A Taiwanese delegation will exhibit the country's diverse biotechnology development, such as gene technology, the development of new medicines, clinical experiments, biotechnology for agriculture, nanotechnology and traditional Chinese medicine research.
RSS