Taiwanese innovations won six gold medals at the 124th edition of the Concours Lepine, an annual invention competition in Paris.
They stood out among 250 competitors, with jury president Rene Lavergne praising them for embodying the spirit of the century-old event.
“Taiwan really showed the spirit of the Concours Lepine. These are the inventions we are looking for — something creative, voluntary and would contribute to society,” Lavergne said.
Photo: CNA
Thirty-five Taiwan-based companies showcased a total of 61 patented inventions at the event, making Taiwan the largest foreign delegation.
Among the featured inventions were a red fluorescent protein extracted from indigenous algae for use in cell observation and precision medicine, a biomimetic waterproof car coating inspired by the lotus leaf effect and a multifunctional emergency survival kit.
Tseng Ming-kuo (曾明國), CEO of Luxwell — a sports and fitness equipment manufacturer that has participated in the event five times — said that only new inventions are eligible for entry, and awards are reserved for those that contribute meaningfully to human society.
Taiwan’s entries reflected the nation’s strong foundation in industries such as semiconductors, electronics and artificial intelligence (AI), he said.
Meanwhile, Hsu Chieh (徐捷), head of the Taiwanese delegation, said that branding and healthcare were the two major trends this year.
As the US-China trade war intensifies, contract manufacturing — with its razor-thin profit margins — is likely to fade, Hsu said.
Companies that excel in branding are more likely to thrive, he added.
He also commented on the growing interest in automated and AI-assisted products, especially as Taiwan and France face aging populations and declining birthrates.
“The public is curious to see how these products can help the elderly live better lives,” he said.
Only gold medals were awarded at Friday’s ceremony. Silver and bronze medals were slated to be announced yesterday.
Established in 1901, the Concours Lepine is the world’s oldest invention competition. It is held alongside the Foire de Paris at Porte de Versailles.
It begun on April 30 and is to run until today.
As of Friday, the event had attracted more than 500,000 visitors, organizers said.
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