South Korea’s Jetema has joined an 81억2000만원 government research and development project to develop a fourth-grade medical device utilizing human-derived collagen. According to company and industry announcements on September 8, 2026, the multi-year initiative runs from July 2026 through December 2030 and aims to establish a commercialization pipeline for advanced biomedical materials.
Project Structure and Industry Collaboration
The state-backed initiative falls under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s second bio-health research and development program for 2026. CutisBio is serving as the primary research and development institution for the project, titled “Development of Manufacturing Process and Grade 4 Medical Device for Mid-to-High Molecular Weight Medical Human Collagen Based on AI Sequence Design and Process Modeling.”
The consortium divides responsibilities across the entire development lifecycle, spanning human collagen sequence design, manufacturing process engineering, device prototyping, non-clinical evaluations, and regulatory approval processes.
AI-Driven Collagen Design and Medical Applications
The core technological objective involves leveraging artificial intelligence to design human collagen sequences and model manufacturing processes. This approach seeks to produce mid-to-high molecular weight human collagen suitable for medical-grade applications. Human collagen is recognized for high biocompatibility and tissue integration, making it a promising candidate for tissue regeneration and advanced therapeutic devices.
Within the consortium, Jetema is tasked with overseeing the development of fourth-grade medical devices derived from the engineered collagen.
Strategic Expansion Beyond Aesthetics
While Jetema has historically focused on aesthetics and biopharmaceuticals, this government-backed project marks a strategic push into high-risk medical devices and novel biomaterials. Company representatives noted that the initiative provides a structured framework to validate the commercial viability of human collagen and expand its product portfolio.
As the project remains in its initial development phase following the grant selection, formal clinical trial approvals and product licenses have not yet been granted. The consortium will spend the next four years advancing the manufacturing models and pre-clinical data required for regulatory submission ahead of the 2030 completion target.