The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) cooperates with SmartLabs to kick-off the “SmartLabs Global Launch” program. SmartLabs is an international biomedical accelerator based on the Taiwan Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park.  SmartLabs has helped their client companies partnering with big pharmas, such as Roche Pharma and Bayer, and raised over 7 billion US dollars.  Editas Medicine (EDIT) and CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), the two world eminent gene editing companies, are among those startup companies cultivated by SmartLabs.  

     In combating the global COVID-19 outbreak, along with the “SmartLabs Global Launch” program, SmartLabs will conduct mentoring programs for the biomedical start-ups and accelerate the clinical validation and US FDA EUA approval for Taiwanese COVID-19 epidemic prevention products. 

Hawk Scientific Co. from Chang Gung University designed its qPCR nucleic acid detection technology as the portable diagnostic suitcase and the handheld IoT reader with lateral flow strip tests for emerging pathogen outbreaks and animal diseases for on-site detection.  At present, their machines can complete 300 nucleic acid tests within one hour.  Both of their detection systems can be applied in rapid testing of COVID-19 virus.  And the diagnostic systems are intended to use in rural areas where there is no testing laboratory available nearby.

Instant Nanobiosensor Co. (INB), a startup company from National Chung Cheng University, uses its state-of-the-art patented technology to develop a biomarker light sensing chip and analyzer.  It’s a portable, instant, accurate and specimens-saving diagnostic system. Using the system, the reaction time has been drastically reduced from 3 hours to few minutes.  INB has been got the approval by the MOST Science Park Committee to establish a new manufacture facility in Hsinchu Science Park this year and currently the team is developing a COVID-19 diagnostic system for rapid testing.

The MOST will work together with SmartLabs to speed up the commercialization of Taiwanese COVID-19 medical products and to get the approval of US FDA EUA.  With this partnership, “Taiwan’s technologies can help” will be further demonstrated in fighting this global pandemic!

Media Contact

Min-Cheh Lin

Section Chief

Department of Academia-Industry Collaboration and Science Park Affairs,

Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)

Tel : 886-2-2737-7212

E-mail: miclin@nstc.gov.tw