The role of transformation of traditional industry in the great leap forward of Taiwan’s bio-medical technology cannot be underestimated! Instrument Technology Research Center (ITRC), National Applied Research Laboratories have assisted ThinTech Materials Technology Co., Ltd., (TTMC) become the first bio-medical grade 3D metallic printing powder supplier in Taiwan to be pre-clinical animal testing certified; together with Tongtai Machine & Tool Co. Ltd, which has self-developed 3D metallic printing equipment, the company is moving towards various challenges including printing, test verification, regulations and clinical trial. On July 14, the Taiwan Bio-medical Technology International Market Entry Launch Ceremony and National Applied Research Laboratories/ Tongtai/China Steel/ TTMC 3D Printing Joint Laboratory Opening Ceremony were held, announcing the joint effort to promote the entry of Taiwan’s bio-medical equipment into the international market.
Taiwan occupies an important position in the international ICT equipment market. As industry upgrades in the 21st Century, the government should make medical equipment a focal industry for development. According to Business Monitor International (BMI,) in 2015 the world’s medical equipment market was worth US$323.9 billion and is expected to reach US$382.5 billion by 2018. With the dual attractants of high profit and high output value, as well as large companies, startups around the world have entered the business. Taiwan has the advantages of a complete national insurance scheme and abundant medical technology. With the ITRC integrating medical material up, middle and downstream supply chains and cross-industry cooperation, there is a good chance that the next Taiwan industrial miracle can be created.
On July 14, using the movie premiere method and merging in local culture, the ITRC held the Taiwan Bio-medical Technology International Market Entry Launch Ceremony and National Applied Research Laboratories/ Tongtai/China Steel/ TTMC 3D Printing Joint Laboratory Opening Ceremony.Tsai Mi-ching, Political deputy minister, Ministry of Science and Technology, Hsinchu County Magistrate Chiu Ching-chun, Dr. Tzi-Dar Chiueh, vice-president, National Applied Research Laboratories, Tu Chi-hsiang, deputy director-general, Hsinchu-Science-based Industrial Park Administration, personnel from the host unit the ITRC and its strategic partners Tongtai, China Steel, TTMC, INTAI Technology and Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital were in attendance, as were over 80 representatives from different bio-medical companies, all supporting and witnessing this important milestone for Taiwan's bio-medical technology industry.
Ministry of Science and Technology Parliament Secretary, Tsai Mi-ching said in his speech that the issue of aging is receiving more and more attention worldwide. Associated bio-tech, medical, and healthcare industry demand is increasing and this is driving the output value of the medical equipment industry continually up. The Ministry understands that the domestic medical equipment industry is developing quickly and will make every effort to link upstream academia and research and downstream industry, establish complete subsidy rules, and fill in capital gaps to boost the momentum of Taiwan’s bio-medical technology industry.
Magistrate Chiu Ching-chun said that “city of hope, beauty and technology” has long been the objective of the county government. He believes that in future, with the Ministry of Science & Technology, National Applied Research Laboratories, suppliers and the county government working hard together, a bio-medical industry cluster effect will certainly be achieved, creating economic benefit and driving the vibrant development of Hsinchu County.
Hsinchu Science Park Administrator, Tu Chi-hsiang pointed out that, to spur a new wave of industrial economic value in Taiwan and accelerate the development of the domestic bio-tech industry, through national policy and regulatory adjustment, the new medicine R&D and high-level medical equipment-centered Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park has been established, the aim being to establish a complete bio-tech industry cluster. Since its completion, the 3D additive manufacturing technology based system packaging lab has become the most complete bio-medical material additive printing platform in Taiwan, providing the medical material industry with integrated service and providing solid support for their R&D activities. Success can be expected before too long.
National Research Institute Vice Department Head, Dr. Tzi-Dar Chiueh said, the applications of bio-medical technology are increasing all the time and the associated business opportunities and output value cannot be ignored. To support the development of the Taiwan bio-medical technology industry, the National Applied Research Laboratories will build a complete bio-medical R&D technology platform, including bio-medical service platform and experimental animal testing room to effectively shorten the development period for bio-tech medical material product prototypes and achieve the objective of products entering the market.