Biomedical innovation in Taiwan is increasingly translating into real-world applications. The 22nd National Innovation Award ceremony was held yesterday (17th), organized by the Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry (IBMI) and the Research Center for Biotechnology and Medicine Policy. For the second consecutive year, the event received investment support from Everbright Biofund, further strengthening its connection to international capital markets. With record-breaking participation—392 applications, a 20% year-on-year increase—the award has become Taiwan's most representative platform for the commercialization of biomedical technology.

Key Highlights from the 2025 Awards:

• Academic and Clinical Leadership: National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and the National Taiwan University (NTU) Hospital system led the Academic Innovation category with 8 awards each. In the Clinical Innovation category, the Chang Gung Medical Foundation outperformed all others with 13 awards, highlighting the role of large medical systems in defining clinical needs and field validation.
• Pharmaceutical Advancements: The Biotech & Pharmaceutical sector saw the highest growth at 31.7%. Notably, six domestically developed new drugs have entered the clinical stage, with some reaching Phase III or achieving market approval.
• International Participation: A new "International Startup" category attracted 2.5 times more entries than last year, including global giants such as MSD, Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, and Merck.
• Commercial Success: Dr. Yang Pan-chyr, Chief Convener of the awards, noted that the platform helped winning companies raise over NT$15 billion this year. Success stories include Aztron medtech (minimally invasive tools in 15 US surgical centers), V5 Med (expansion into major Thai hospital groups), and FaceHeart (securing orders in the Middle East).

Resource: 國家新創獎成生醫商轉平台　楊泮池：由萌芽邁向成熟