Taipei – The National Cheng Kung University inked a global academia-industry medical device alliance agreement with the University of Malaysia on June 14 in Taipei City. “Taiwan’s biotechnology industry shows tremendous growth potential as its current production value stands at NT$166 billion [US$5.5 billion], while the global average is US$300 billion,” ROC Minister of Economic Affairs Chang Chia-juch said following the signing ceremony. Involving various Taiwan medical equipment manufacturers and a number of their Malaysian counterparts, the pact was brokered by NCKU’s Medical Device Innovation Center. It is expected the partnership will enable the local medical equipment industry to expand and strengthen its presence in the global market. Taiwan firms participating in the initiative include Codent Technical Industry Co. Ltd., Matise Instruments Co. Ltd., Nam Liong Group, SportsArt Fitness, Taiwan CareTech Corp. and 4G Technology Co., all based in Southern Taiwan Science Park. Under the agreement, Taiwan medical equipment manufacturers are eyeing a bigger footprint in Malaysia and springboarding into other Association of Southeast Asian Nations member markets. The initiative is based on NCKU’s Southeast, South Asia and Taiwan Universities coalition. The Tainan City-based institution engages in a wide range of medical device collaborations with leading tertiary institutions in India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam on the back of the decade-old partnership. As the coalition is broadened to include more industry members, it is projected to deliver additional cross-sector collaborations and spur sectorwide development across the region. Source: Taiwan Today Photo: Signatories display the Taiwan-Malaysia academia-industry medical device alliance agreement June 14 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of NCKU)