R&D 100 Awards, selected by an independent judging panel and editors of R&D Magazine published in the U.S. are believed the ultimate technological and innovative achievement by most of Tech-fans. The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), generally seen as the hotbed of technological invention and innovation in Taiwan, again proved it’s in the same league as Intel, Dell, 3M and Hitachi, who are also R&D 100 Award winners, by entering two eco-friendly technologies that defeated many rivals worldwide: the rewritable i2R e-Paper and polarizer protective film HyTAC. Other Taiwan’s research instates such as the Institute for Information Industry (III) and Taiwan Textile Research Institute also received the rewards.

To retain excellent talents, the cabinet passed draft revision of the “basic law for science and technology,” greatly relaxing restrictions on cooperation between academicians or researchers at public institutions and domestic enterprises. According to the draft revision, professors at public universities or researchers at government-sponsored research organizations will be able to serve as directors or supervisors of domestic enterprises. In addition, they will be able to own more than 10% stake in domestic enterprises using their technologies for investment. Meanwhile, public universities and government-sponsored research organizations will be able to manage, dispose, or transfer their technologies and intellectual properties, free from the restrictions of “national property law.” The draft revision is the largest reform of the “basic law for science and technology” since its enactment 12 years ago and has been made in response to the suggestion of a number of leading academic institutions, calling for the provision of flexibility to their talents for business ventures, so as to retain domestic scientific and technological talents. It is hoped that the removal on the restrictions on domestic talents and commercialization of R&D results will be indispensable for a new wave of startups and the development of emerging industries in Taiwan.

National Taiwan University (NTU) ranked in the 102-150 category of the top universities in the world, according to the Academic Ranking of World University (ARWU), released by Shanghai Jiaotong University. Other rankings of Taiwan universities: 201-300 category: National Cheng Kung University; 301-400 category: National Chiao Tung University, National Tsing Hua University; 401-500 category: National Central University; National Yang Ming University.

Wong Chi-huey, head of Academia Sinica (Taiwan’s top research institution), expects research and development efforts backed by the institution to help upgrade Taiwan’s biotechnology industry. Academia Sinica has been an incubator for advanced studies in areas ranging from stem cells, DNA sequencing and atomic sciences to history, literature and linguistics. It is in the vanguard of promoting Taiwan’s biotechnology sector. According to Wong, at least 60 new drugs developed by Taiwanese companies are undergoing clinical testing, with 30 complying with U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards. These efforts include an antibody for HIV by TaiMed Biologics Inc. and antibiotics targeting cancer by TaiGen Biotechnology Co. Ltd. Numerous new drugs coming from Taiwan should appear on the market in the next few years, he said. Wong believes such drug development efforts will enjoy better resources as the government moves to provide a more encouraging environment, a key part of which will be a biotech park proposed by Academia Sinica. To facilitate a cluster effect for drug development, which typically consists of drug discovery, preclinical research and clinical trials on humans, the biotech park, adjacent to the institute in Taipei’s Nangang District is set to become headquarters for key participants in drug discovery and testing. Slated to open in 2017, it will be home to Taiwan’s leading research in translational medicine. Representative offices of the National Science Council, Ministry of Economic Affairs, National Laboratory Animal Center and TFDA, under the Department of Health, will provide on-site support for the NT$ 22.5 bio. initiative.

“ITRI Today” is a quarterly English publication reporting news from the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), including R&D results, cooperative agreements, and organizational developments, with the intent to familiarize international business, academic, and government communities with ITRI’s organizational mission and accomplishments:
http://www.itri.org.tw/eng/publication/index.asp

Contents
Taiwan researchers are working on the development of a high-speed wireless communication system that could have a data transfer rate equal to that of optical fiber – the Tri-Service General Hospital is developing a better way to detect lung cancer in an early stage – a new method of abdominal palpation was introduced by a local gynecologist, which helps doctors diagnose pelvic inflammatory diseases in women more effectively – the National Cheng Kung University jointly develops with a U.S. laboratory the next-generation positron emission tomography (PET) technology – a clot-busting drug that treats heart attacks using a combination of stem cells and nano material was unveiled by the National Science Council – Academia Sinica researchers discover a positive feedback loop within the Arabidopsis circadian clock – Al Rider unveiled Taiwan’s first indigenous unmanned vehicle for aerial photography – the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and the National Research Council of Canada develop innovative cancer diagnostic and treatment technologies – Scientists at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences show how phosphorylation modulates Daxx selectively binding to SUMO-1 over other paralogs and its implications in stress-induced apoptosis – NCKU reported the first flexible polymer devices for rapid separation and manipulation of micro-particles utilizing the ODEP technique – US pace shuttle Endeavor marks progress in Taiwan’s space technology – the National Chung Hsing University and the Indian Agricultural Universities Association signed an agricultural research agreement.

Contents
A student invented a pedal-powered LED lighting system for bicycles – design students invented a new way of scanning books without a scanner – six Taiwanese product designs received the iF gold awards – a research team developed a process to make key components of flexible e-books and displays from silk protein – ITRI and Wan fang Hospital developed the first domestically made leukemia target drug candidate – a research team identified the role of a motor protein in forming autophagosomes – the National Cheng Kung University and the National Space Organization signed a memorandum of understanding to further develop advanced satellite propulsion technology – scientist achieved a breakthrough in cell rejuvenation by injecting four genes into a mature cell – local scientists document the world’s first knife-wound HIV infection – China Steel Corp. in Kaohsiung and the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology launch a joint steel research center – IBM launched a new power systems development laboratory – the National Chip Implementation Center released a new method of building IC chips that can cut the development time of chips by two-thirds and the cost by one-half – the Institute of Transportation developed a bridge safety warning system – a team of scientists reported that the hearing loss is an authentic symptom of Huntington’s disease – researchers linked genetic screening with drug side effects – biotechnicians found that feeding fish powdered garlic can help them grow bigger and healthier.

Contents
Extracts of seeds of the Longan (“dragon eye”) fruit have been found to help reduce inflammation and pain – A team at Academia Sinica found that autophagy plays an important role in hepatitis C virus replication – A Taiwan-made supercomputer is expected to be operational in July and to be listed among the 100 fastest in the world – Nobel laureate Lee Yuan-tseh was awarded the Italian Science for Peace prize – Kopin Lu, a researcher at Academia Sinica, has been granted Germany’s Humboldt Research award – French aeronautics students visit Taiwan for an exchange program with National Cheng Kung University – Academia Sinica researchers have been able to isole the scientific chain why a commonly used eye drops containing pirenoxine help cataract sufferers – 15 Taiwanese universities were ranked among the world’s top 100 design schools by International Forum Design (iF);National Taiwan University of Science and Technology ranked top spot in the iF-awards with a water battery-powered electric fan – A Taiwanese research teams won the best design award with its invention of a dual-mode video decoder chip at the Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference – 24 research results in nano-technology were showcased at the nanotechnology exhibition in Tokyo – The world’s first 3-D TV chip produced using 40-nanometer process technology was announced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) – Chen Wen-Tsuen, former president of National Tsing Hua University was granted the Taylor L. Booth Education Award by the IEEE Computer Society – The National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) unveiled a new earthquake early warning system with warnings 7-27 seconds before a temblor strikes – The National Cheng kung University build Taiwan’s first futuristic classroom (with a creative space, film studio and information station) – the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital have developed the first domestically produced anti-cancer drug candidate, called ITRI-260, to help treat acute myeloid leukemia – Researchers of the China Medical University in Taichung have identified three gene regions that are likely linked with susceptibility to Kawasaki disease – Oxford Instruments (UK) has partnered with ITRI in setting up a research center for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) – Researchers make fire ant breakthrough by discovering their origins.