Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday outlined a plan to make the nation a research and development (R&B) hub for innovative biomedical technologies.
To develop a stronger biomedical industy — one of the key industries in the Executive Yuan’s “five plus two” innovative industries plan — government agencies should take proactive steps to bolster precision healthcare by integrating innovative technologies in various fields, Su said in Taipei after a briefing on the government’s work on biomedical innovations.
For example, big data and biomedicine could be integrated in the care sector, as well as in disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment, he said.
This would help position the nation as an international biomedical innovation and R&D hub, and a global leader in precision healthcare, Su said.
Since the innovative industries plan was put forward, concerned agencies have pushed for the integration of databases, fostered talent and innovation teams, and supported the approval of new drugs and medical equipment by foreign governments, which combined have yielded remarkable results and boosted revenue in the biomedical industry, he said
Notably, efforts to establish innovation clusters have shown great results, including the launch of the National Biotechnology Park in 2018, the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) Hsinchu Branch last year and the Southern Taiwan Science Park Smart Biotech Medical Cluster in April, he said.
The construction of a second biomedical building at the NTUH Hsinchu Branch was finished a year ahead of schedule, Su said, adding that the building now hosts 26 companies.
The government has allocated NT$3.5 billion (US$118.6 million) for the construction of a third biomedical building in the hopes that the sector would consolidate its foothold in the international market, provide more employment opportunities in Taiwan and spur economic growth, he said.
Taiwan has proved its biomedical capabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, as evidenced in its success in curbing the spread of the disease, as well as its ability to timely develop testing kits, drugs and vaccine candidates, he said, expressing his gratitude to the nation’s healthcare industry.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
Taiwan successfully defended its women’s 540 kilogram title and won its first-ever men’s 640 kg title at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday. In the women’s event, Taiwan’s eight-person squad reached the final following a round-robin preliminary round and semifinals featuring teams from Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Basque Country and South Korea. In the finals, they swept the Basque team 2-0, giving the team composed mainly of National Taiwan Normal University students and graduates its second championship in a row, and its fourth in five years. Team captain
RSS