At the closing ceremony of the BioTaiwan Committee's annual conference today, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said biotech is one of six emerging industries the government is actively promoting, and the administration will quickly plan and implement policies which answer the consensus and conclusions reached by this committee.
"Biotechnology is a high-risk industry which requires a huge amount of investment in the early stages of research and development. To preserve Taiwan's clear advantages and niches in global competition, however, the nation should not be conservative but rather should proactively and optimistically strengthen investment and overcome challenges," Jiang said.
"If we are unwilling to undertake preparations and seek breakthroughs to develop biotech, we turn away from opportunities as well as risks, and stagnation will result," he emphasized. "This will have an adverse effect on the national economy and the public welfare.
"I expect government agencies to proactively respond to the valuable recommendations of experts and scholars, implementing new policies item-by-item. I would also like to express my sincere respect and gratitude to the members of this committee for the wisdom, experience and time they have contributed," the premier concluded.
During the ceremony, deputy ministers of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Science Council and Ministry of Economic Affairs—Shiu Ming-neng, Y. Henry Sun and Woody Tyzz-jiun Duh, respectively—spoke about the committee's discussion topics, and Academica Sinica President Wong Chi-huey provided members his own observations and recommendations.
The BioTaiwan Committee's annual meeting was held from October 7 to 9 and hosted by the Board of Science and Technology. Its focus was innovative biomedical products and services for healthy and smart lifestyles. Discussions were held on three topics: integrating health care administration to develop health industries, innovative smart medical equipment development and biotechnology, and new pharmaceutical niche exploration and strategy. Over 100 Taiwanese and foreign experts from industry, the government, academia and research institutions participated in the event.