During his address at the Taiwan Biotechnology and Medicine Industry Policy Review Forum, Premier Sean Chen reiterated that the government would continue to support the growth of the biomedical industry and said he expected the Taiwan Biotechnology Take-off Diamond Action Plan passed in 2009 to continue to bolster the biotechnology industry's development.
Chen noted that biotechnology has been employed since early human history, such as in the practice of making wine. With the advancement of science and changes in people's lifestyles, however, the field has evolved. He cited the example of lab-grown beef, which a Dutch scientist created by cultivating bovine stem cells and mixing them with nutrients from algae. "This technique makes it possible for moral vegetarians to eat meat. Such groundbreaking change is redefining biotech," Chen said.
The premier used the four cornerstones of the Taiwan Biotech Take-off Diamond Action Plan to demonstrate the success of the government's biotechnology promotion and its objectives for the future. These are the promotion of R&D, the creation of biotechnology venture capital funds and the establishments of the Supra Integration and Incubation Center and the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health.
He noted that since the plan began, domestic academic institutions' R&D capabilities have increased significantly; a venture capital fund has been established; and Taiwan has had a sound regulatory environment under Minister without Portfolio Chang San-cheng's supervision of the Supra Integration and Incubation Center and the Food and Drug Administration. Positive developments will continue in all these aspects, he said.
Chen also emphasized that five agencies—the National Science Council, Department of Health, Council of Agriculture, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Council for Economic Planning and Development—are coordinating to realize the action plan, and he hopes that they will share the fruits of their efforts.
The four-day forum, which began June 22, was hosted by the Executive Yuan's Science and Technology Advisory Group, the Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry and the Research Center for Biotechnology and Medicine Policy. It was chaired by Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng and attended by representatives from industry, academia and government. Subjects of discussion included the environment, systems, resources and regulation.