President of Taiwan, William Lai, is promoting the integration of smart medical care and health tech, with the goal of creating a trillion-dollar biomedical industry.

Taiwan • Politics • 05/09 11:04
President of Taiwan, William Lai, is promoting the integration of smart medical care and health tech, with the goal of creating a trillion-dollar biomedical industry.

On May 9, 2025, President Lai Ching-te announced at the "2025 Biotechnology Strategy Annual Conference" that the government will promote the biomedical industry to become Taiwan's "national treasure" through smart healthcare and health technology, incorporating it into the core policy blueprint. President Lai emphasized the importance of cross-sector integration, regulatory easing, and technology application, and expressed gratitude for the support of the National Biotechnology and Medical Industry Promotion Association. On the same day, he attended the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, noting that the different ways countries commemorate the day reflect the diversity of historical interpretations.

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05/09 11:04

President of Taiwan, William Lai, is promoting the integration of smart medical care and health tech, with the goal of creating a trillion-dollar biomedical industry.

On May 9, 2025, President Lai Ching-te announced at the "2025 Biotechnology Strategy Annual Conference" that the government will promote the biomedical industry to become Taiwan's "national treasure" through smart healthcare and health technology, incorporating it into the core policy blueprint. President Lai emphasized the importance of cross-sector integration, regulatory easing, and technology application, and expressed gratitude for the support of the National Biotechnology and Medical Industry Promotion Association. On the same day, he attended the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, noting that the different ways countries commemorate the day reflect the diversity of historical interpretations.

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Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu reaffirmed the economic slogan at the labor appreciation event, highlighting the crucial role of labor in Taiwan's economy.

On May 4, 2025, President of the Legislative Yuan Han Kuo-yu attended the National Labor Union Federation's "2025 Model Worker Commendation Conference" in Taipei, emphasizing the reliance of Taiwan's economy on the hard work of its labor force and urging the government to focus on the labor needs of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as traditional industries. He reiterated the economic slogan, "Goods must be exported, and people must be welcomed," and highlighted the pressure U.S. tariffs place on Taiwan's small and medium-sized enterprises, urging the government to offer more support to tackle international trade challenges.

Smart Healthcare and Health Technology: The Dual Engines Driving a Trillion-Dollar Industry

At the "2025 Bio-Strategy Conference," President Lai Ching-te clearly stated that smart healthcare and health technology will be the two core drivers propelling Taiwan's biomedical industry towards a trillion-dollar scale. As Taiwan officially enters a "super-aged society," the government has an unshirkable responsibility to ensure that citizens "live long and healthy lives."

President Lai mentioned that the development of smart healthcare will rely on the application of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology. Through the development of NGS testing kits, not only can the early screening rates for major diseases like cancer be improved, but the medical device industry can also be upgraded. More importantly, the BioData generated by NGS will become a foundational resource for precision medicine and biotech research and development, further enhancing Taiwan's competitiveness in the global biomedical market.

Additionally, the government completed the third reading of the "Regenerative Medicine Act" and the "Regenerative Medicine Product Ordinance" in June 2024, establishing a legal foundation for the field of regenerative medicine and moving towards international standards. President Lai emphasized that having complete regulations is just the first step; it is also necessary to combine high-quality medical services with world-class technological capabilities to form a strong support for the health industry.

National Health Insurance Database and AI Technology: Taiwan's Key Advantages

Taiwan possesses a rare global asset in its universal health insurance system and comprehensive National Health Insurance Database, which have become key assets in promoting smart healthcare. President Lai pointed out that at this critical moment as the world enters the AI technology era, Taiwan should leverage these advantages and actively engage in cross-domain integration, merging the medical, technology, and biotech sectors to create a new industrial value chain.

To this end, the government will continue to promote the following measures:

  • Adjust the regulatory environment to relax fundraising and investment restrictions
  • Improve the construction of biotech park clusters
  • Strengthen talent cultivation and field testing mechanisms
  • Encourage international cooperation and technology exchange

These policies will help the biomedical industry establish a foothold in Taiwan, expand globally, and move towards the trillion-dollar industry goal.

National Biotechnology and Medical Care Industry Promotion Association: The Bridge Between Government and Industry

In the process of promoting biomedical policies, the National Biotechnology and Medical Care Industry Promotion Association has played an indispensable role. President Lai repeatedly thanked the association in his speech, noting that since its inception, it has actively built a bridge between the government and industry and initiated the integration of the medical, technology, and biotech sectors ahead of schedule.

Whether it was the precision health policy promoted during former President Tsai Ing-wen's tenure or the "Healthy Taiwan" blueprint proposed by President Lai after taking office, the association has been involved, gathering industry forces to provide concrete suggestions and assisting in the implementation of policies through practical actions. President Lai described the association as "the government's best think tank and bridge," hoping that it will continue to unite various forces in the future to create more fruitful results for the health of the people and the development of the national industry.

Comprehensive Health Policies to Address the Challenges of an Aging Society

President Lai also reviewed the government's various actions in health policy over the past year, including:

  • Increasing the screening rate for major cancers
  • Establishing a "10 Billion Cancer New Drug Fund"
  • Promoting the "888 Plan for the Prevention of Three Highs"
  • Launching the "National Mental Health Resilience Plan"
  • Expanding the total health insurance budget
  • Promoting the "Healthy Taiwan Deepening Plan" with a budget of 48.9 billion NTD over five years

These policies demonstrate the government's determination to strengthen the healthcare system and lay the foundation for the development of smart healthcare and health technology.

Commemoration of Victory in Europe Day: Diversity in Historical Interpretation

On the same day, President Lai Ching-te also attended the 80th anniversary commemoration of Victory in Europe Day held in Taipei, addressing diplomats from various countries stationed in Taiwan. He pointed out that commemorating Victory in Europe Day is not only a remembrance of history but also a commitment to the values of freedom and democracy.

It is noteworthy that the commemoration date of Victory in Europe Day varies in different countries. Western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France regard May 8 as the day of Germany's unconditional surrender and hold commemorative events on that day; whereas Russia and some Eastern European countries designate May 9 as "Victory Day," because according to Moscow time, Germany officially surrendered to the Soviet Union in the early hours of May 9, 1945.

This difference stems from the fact that the German military signed two separate surrender documents in France and Berlin, and the Soviet Union had doubts about the legality of the first signing. President Lai used this to point out that the way history is interpreted and commemorated reflects each country's understanding of war experiences and international order, and also reminds the world to cherish the preciousness of peace and freedom.

References

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