The 2025 Asia-Pacific Biotechnology Investment Forum opened yesterday (11). Executive Yuan Secretary-General Ming-Hsin Kung emphasized that with the integration of AI, ICT industries, and clinical applications, Taiwan’s biotech sector is not merely focused on manufacturing medical products but is redefining the future of healthcare. The government will implement three key strategies: supporting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, encouraging innovative R&D, and accelerating market adoption while strengthening local supply chains to connect with global markets.
Kung shared that Taiwan’s overall biotech industry generated NT$757.8 billion in revenue in 2023, marking an 8.12% year-on-year increase, with the pharmaceutical sector recording the largest growth of 34.34%. Since the implementation of the Biotechnology and New Pharmaceutical Development Act in 2007, the industry’s total market capitalization has expanded more than 14-fold, reaching NT$1.8 trillion in the first half of this year, reflecting continued investor confidence.
Kung pointed out Taiwan’s competitive advantages in both pharmaceuticals and medical devices. While the pharmaceutical industry is primarily focused on generics and domestic demand, local firms have already begun securing international orders, strengthening product development and marketing channels, and expanding exports. In medical devices, Taiwan benefits from its robust electronics and ICT supply chain, successfully integrating AI and IoT technologies into clinical applications such as electronic medical records, wearable devices, and smart diagnostics, thereby reinforcing the foundation of smart healthcare.
Regarding government strategies, Kung noted that in pharmaceuticals, the focus is on encouraging innovative R&D aligned with global trends. This includes pursuing First-in-class and Best-in-class drugs and technology platforms, advancing novel drug platforms and manufacturing processes, and expanding into biologics, nucleic acid-based drugs, LNP technologies, and cell and gene therapies. At the same time, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its local supply chain to further connect with global markets.
For medical devices, the strategy centers on assisting traditional industries in upgrading by integrating AI and obtaining medical certifications to achieve higher value transformation. Kung highlighted that traditional industries such as metals and textiles are encouraged to adopt medical-grade certification and clinical validation. For example, Shinkong Synthetic Fibers has leveraged its chemical fiber expertise to enter the medical raw material field, developing artificial ligaments and increasing value-added applications.
Pan-Chyr Yang, Chairman of DIAMOND BIOFUND, stated that the global biotech sector is at a critical crossroads of multiple innovations, including AI applications, precision medicine, and cell therapies. Taiwan possesses comprehensive capabilities in clinical practice and technology translation, but must accelerate integration across R&D, capital, and international markets to build a resilient and competitive innovation ecosystem. Looking ahead, Taiwan aims to establish strategic linkages from laboratories to capital markets and onto the international stage, driven by long-term capital, systemic design, and global alignment, ultimately leading the biotech industry onto the world stage.
Resource: 亞太生技投資論壇登場 行政院秘書長龔明鑫：三大策略助力生技產業連結國際
