Taiwan prime bio-tech location

Taiwan emerged tops among five Asian locations for building a bio-technology industry, but China is the market to watch, an SG Securities report said yesterday.

The study rated China and Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Taiwan and Singapore on factors such as government leadership, research, protection of intellectual property rights and access to capital.

Following Taiwan were Singapore, China-Hong Kong, South Korea and India.

But SG securities noted that Asia's bio-tech landscape is dynamic and that these positions could quickly change. China's

entry into the WTO was cited as the biggest short-term catalyst.

"China is the market to watch, as we think it has the potential to nurture Asia's long-term winners," said Foo Fatt Kah, head of research.

China also has a huge science base, a massive domestic market and competitive labor and development costs.

Taiwan has many elements in place for the successful development of a bio-tech industry, the study said, noting strong intellectual property protection, good infrastructure and networks, and ample funding.

"Singapore's success [in bio-technology] in the next five years will depend on its ability to bring in foreign talent and technology through alliances and collaborations," the report said.

The small number of professionals in the field and non-entrepreneurial culture were mentioned as obstacles.

In terms of intellectual property rights, Singapore leads the field in Asia, the study said. Strong government policies and funding and good infrastructure were mentioned as strengths.

The city-state wants to make the biomedical sciences the "fourth pillar" of its economy after electronics, chemicals and engineering.

In related news, National Chiao Tung University and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) signed an agreement yesterday to jointly sponsor a research and development center on the university's campus.

The center will focus on research projects in the fields of wireless communication, broadband multimedia technology, opto-electronics, distance cooperative learning, system-on-chip technology and nanotechnology.

Addressing the center's opening ceremony, National Science Council Chairman Wei Che-ho (魏哲和) said that the center will serve as a bridge between academic institutions and the industry.

Universities maintain 65 percent of Taiwan's research and development capability and it is important to have proper channels to transfer the technologies and innovations from the academic institutions to the industry, according to Chang Chung-yen (張俊彥), president of National Chiao Tung University.

In the past ITRI has contributed greatly to the establishment of contacts between academic circles and industry. ITRI president Shih Chin-tay (史欽泰) said that the institute has dedicated nearly 90 percent of its efforts to bring the two areas together.

The institute regularly offers training for 1,000 technical personnel from the industry, he added.

In July 1996, ITRI set up an incubation center next to the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park (新竹科學園區) to provide services to high-tech start-ups.

Under the cooperation agreement, the two institutions can exchange research and development personnel and share the achievements of their research projects.