South Korea’s Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. (CKD) said Wednesday it will provide full scholarships to 52 students in Indonesia, Vietnam and Rwanda.

The CKD Kochon Foundation on Tuesday delivered scholarships to 20 low-income but highly motivated students at Indonesia’s Institut Teknologi Bandung and the University of Indonesia. Last week in Vietnam, it awarded scholarships to 20 students at Hanoi University of Pharmacy and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City. It also decided to fund four Vietnamese students who have completed their bachelor’s in Vietnam and will start their master’s program in Korea’s Sungkyunkwan University, Gachon University and Yeungnam University.

Next month, it plans to finance eight students from the University of Rwanda.

CKD Kochon Foundation started the overseas scholarship program in 2013 to fund talented students in developing countries. It has so far supported 207 students.

The pharmaceutical company on Monday also won the top prize at the 1st Korea Biopharmaceutical Awards. The award was launched this year by Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization and Maeil Business Newspaper to reward and nurture local biopharmaceutical firms with high potential. The company was acknowledged for the scientific efficacy and marketability of its CKD-702 bispecific antibody, which is currently under preclinical trial. It will receive about 700 million won ($622,500) in funding to further develop the drug, including consulting and technical assistance from GE Healthcare APAC Fast Trak Center and cultivation and refining products from GE Healthcare.

By Kim Hye-soon and Kim Hyo-jin

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