Reported by Huang Wen-Chi and Yang Wen-Chi from Taipei
The 16th Bio Taiwan Conference started on the 19th of July. President Tsai Ing-Wen attended the opening ceremony. In her speech, she stated her government’s vison of promoting Taiwan as a digital health kingdom by integrating the country’s biomedical industry with the ICT industry to open up an innovative business opportunity.
The digital health industry will be developed by using the AI technology to link the ICT industry with the biological databank, DNA test technology, NHI database and Taiwan’s new drug development capacity so as to integrate into a one-stop biological industrial chain consisting of DNA tests, new drug R&D and precision medicine.
The opening ceremony was directed by Dr Johnsee Lee, Chairman of the Bio Taiwan and the President of Taiwan Bio Industry Organization. President Tsai attended the ceremony and gave prizes to the winners of the “2018 Taiwan Bio Industry Organization Award - Outstanding Company of the Year”
This year’s conference has attracted many foreign investors in search of potential partners. President Tsai expressed that Taiwan is ready for the challenges ahead as a sound environment, a comprehensive system and abundant supply of talents are already in place. Taiwan welcomes foreign investment in the emerging industry. President Tsai’s presence in the opening ceremony has been received well by the industry as it shows the government’s support for the industry.
President Tsai pointed out that the Bio Taiwan Conference continues to expand. It shows that the biomedical industry is booming. Some innovative new drugs and medical devices have already secured foreign marketing authorizations. President Tsai stressed that the government attaches great importance to the development of the biomedical industry and will support the development through the Biomedical Innovation Program, which encourages innovation and links local industries with the global markets.
President Tsai expressed that the biotech industry is one of the key industries on the government’s administrative agenda. The government plans to create different industrial clusters in Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung respectively. The government has also established the “Act for the Development of Biotech and New Pharmaceuticals Industry” to support new drug R&D. President Tsai promised that the government will be the industry’s strongest support.
President Tsai also pointed out that Taiwan was ranked the third out of 21 emerging biotech countries in an assessment conducted by PhRMA in 2017.
【2018-07-20/ Economic Daily】
