Two cutting-edge medical devices developed under a Ministry of Science and Technology R&D support program were showcased May 3 in Taipei City, spotlighting Taiwan’s research prowess and incubation measures for innovative startups.
 
The Handheld Robot Assisted Surgical System, designed by Point Robotics Inc. based in northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu County, increases precision during orthopedic operations by controlling for involuntary tremors and preventing slippage on bone surfaces. The device, which also provides surgeons with feedback on bone density, is expected to be released in 2020.
 
BluBox by Blusense Biotech headquartered in northern Taiwan’s Taoyuan City offers laboratory-grade accuracy in testing for dengue fever, Zika virus and a variety of other health conditions such as liver disease and diabetes in 10 minutes using a single drop of blood. Expected to hit shelves by August, the product is also equipped with third-generation, or 3G, technology and Wi-Fi connectivity to enable data uploads to cloud-based networks.
 
MOST Minister Chen Liang-gee said Taiwan has world-class research capabilities thanks to its impressive talent base. Government support projects are helping streamline the process of commercialization so as to transform promising breakthroughs into lucrative products, he added.
 
According to the MOST, the companies received funding and technical support for the devices under its Germination Program. This initiative helps researchers go from concept to final product through such as measures as facilitating networking between academia and industry, delivering personnel training, and providing corporate startup, matchmaking and market analysis services.
 
Since its launch in 2011, the program has helped foster 45 companies, with a total of 146 research projects achieving commercialization under the initiative, the MOST said. (KWS-E)