Golden Equator, a group of five independently managed companies based in Singapore, has launched the Korea-Singapore Healthcare Incubator together with Korean regulatory and clinical research provider C&R Healthcare Global. The incubator will help 10 to15 Korean companies expand into Singapore and southeast Asia over the next few months.

C&R will identify and financially support Korean companies operating in medical devices, medical technology, cosmetics and cosmeceuticals. Golden Equator will provide the companies with access to investors and business partners, advisory and commercialisation insights, and regional expansion and market entry strategies.

C&R is appointed by the City of Seoul BioHub and Korean Health Industry Development Institution (KHIDI), a government agency, as an incubator. This is KHIDI’s first incubator in partnership with the overseas private sector.

“Supporting Korean firms to locate in and understand the market opportunities here in Singapore and across southeast Asia demonstrates our capabilities in working with high potential founders, firms and innovations around funding and commercialisation,” said Shirley Crystal Chua, founder and CEO of Golden Equator.

According to The Economist, over the next five years, healthcare markets in southeast Asia like Indonesia and Philippines will exceed growth in BRIC healthcare markets.