Pan-Chyr Yang, Chairman of DIAMOND BIOFUND, stated yesterday (11) that the global biotech sector is at a pivotal intersection of multiple innovations, including AI applications, precision medicine, and cell therapy. Taiwan, with its comprehensive clinical and translational capabilities, must accelerate the integration of R&D, capital, and international market access. He emphasized that through the combined forces of long-term funding, institutional design, and global alignment, Taiwan’s biotech industry can be guided toward global leadership.
The 2025 Asia-Pacific Biotech Investment Forum, jointly organized by DIAMOND BIOFUND, the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE), and the Taipei Exchange (TPEx), opened yesterday, attracting more than 500 domestic and international experts, scholars, and biotech professionals. Distinguished speakers included Harvard and MIT professor George Church; John Tsai, Executive Partner of UK-based Syncona; Shumtaro Kodama, Managing Director of Japan’s DCI Partners; Jun Wu, Managing Director at Jefferies; Ling Zhang, Head of Asia Pacific Healthcare at Citi; Hui-Chuan Tu, Deputy President of the Taiwan Stock Exchange; and Flora Lee, Deputy President of the Taipei Exchange.
Yang stressed that Taiwan cannot rely solely on its electronics industry. While private capital is abundant, the biotech industry’s growth has been too slow. He urged the government to introduce more policies that encourage industry development, with practical measures in areas such as smart healthcare, innovative medical devices, new drug development, and CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) services—driven by long-term funding, sound institutional frameworks, and global integration.
He further called for Taiwan to leverage its base of 23 million people to expand into Southeast Asia, and from there move into the U.S. and European markets. At the same time, he urged a shift from the current model—where new Taiwanese drugs are first approved in the U.S. before being introduced domestically—toward a faster approval pathway within Taiwan. He emphasized that reforms at the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) would be key to true internationalization of Taiwan’s biotech sector.
Sherman Lin, Chairman of the Taiwan Stock Exchange, remarked that the biotech and healthcare industry is a path full of promise but fraught with challenges, requiring long-term R&D and significant capital investment before innovations can be transformed into tangible health improvements. Given its heavy reliance on capital markets, the biotech industry needs not only funding but also branding, international visibility, and strategic long-term investment to accelerate the journey of new drugs and innovative devices from the lab to the global market.
Lin noted that as of the end of July, the total market capitalization of biotech companies listed on the TWSE had surpassed NT$860 billion. Moving forward, the Exchange will continue to leverage its Innovation Board in close alignment with national strategies, actively positioning Taiwan as the listing destination of choice for Asia’s next-generation industries. He emphasized that the TWSE aims to serve as a key driver of industrial integration, helping Taiwanese companies step onto the global stage and secure a sustainable leadership position worldwide.
Li-Zhong Jian, Chairman of the Taipei Exchange, added that there are now 187 biotech firms listed or registered on the TPEx and Emerging Stock Board, demonstrating the strong support potential of Taiwan’s capital markets for the biotech sector. The TPEx will continue to support innovative companies with solid R&D capabilities and market potential, helping them maximize diverse resources and fundraising mechanisms, expand international visibility and market scale, and deepen their connection with capital markets—creating fertile ground for startups to thrive and driving the steady development of Taiwan’s biotech industry.
Resource: 鑽石董座楊泮池：生技三力齊發 邁向全球
