Overview

The Biomedical Institute for Convergence at Sungkyunkwan University (BICS) was established in September 2016 as a university-wide platform to integrate and advance biomedical research across diverse academic units. Today, BICS has evolved into the central “Bio Big Tent” of SKKU, bringing together researchers from medicine, life sciences, engineering, and data science to enable seamless collaboration beyond departmental boundaries.

As a cross-departmental convergence hub, BICS connects fragmented research capabilities across colleges and campuses, fostering a unified biomedical research ecosystem. By bridging basic science, clinical research, and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, BICS accelerates the translation of scientific discoveries into real-world medical applications.

A key pillar of BICS is the establishment and operation of Core Labs and Core Facilities, which provide centralized access to advanced instrumentation, technical expertise, and standardized research services. These Core Labs are designed not only to support individual research projects, but also to catalyze large-scale collaborative research by enabling reproducibility, efficiency, and integration across disciplines. Through this shared infrastructure, BICS enhances the overall research competitiveness of SKKU and promotes a culture of open and collaborative science.

Building upon SKKU’s strong clinical foundation and research excellence, BICS aims to become a globally leading biomedical research hub. The institute actively promotes interdisciplinary research in areas such as precision medicine, therapeutic development, biomaterials, drug delivery, bioimaging, and AI-driven biomedical science, while fostering global partnerships with leading academic institutions, industry, and research organizations.

BICS operates under a unified principle:

To serve as the central “Bio Big Tent” platform that integrates biomedical research across departments and disciplines at SKKU, and to establish itself as a world-leading biomedical research institute through strategic international collaborations.

1. Governance

   BICS is strategically managed by an Operation Committee that oversees key institutional functions, including planning, budgeting, international collaboration, education, and outreach. This governance structure ensures coordinated decision-making, efficient resource allocation, and alignment with the long-term vision of SKKU’s biomedical research.

2. Research

   BICS promotes high-impact, globally competitive research through Core Research Groups, which consist of leading investigators across disciplines. These groups are designed to focus on strategic research themes and to drive large-scale, collaborative projects that generate transformative scientific outcomes.

3. Research Support

   To maximize research efficiency and quality, BICS provides comprehensive support through an integrated infrastructure system consisting of:

   • Core Labs: Specialized experimental platforms delivering advanced technologies and technical expertise
   • Core Facilities: Shared high-end instrumentation and standardized analytical services
   • Core Research Groups: Collaborative research units that bridge infrastructure and scientific discovery

   Together, these components form a synergistic ecosystem that enhances reproducibility, scalability, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

4. Affiliated Research Centers

   In addition, BICS establishes and supports Affiliated Research Centers to strengthen research capacity in specific sectors or emerging fields. These centers provide focused expertise, promote specialized collaborations, and complement the broader Bio Big Tent framework by addressing targeted scientific and translational needs.