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Research and Development Taiwan has considerable biotechnology research and development expertise. In addition to domestic universities, many national research institutes have been established, including the Institute of Biomedical Science and the Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica; the Biomedical Engineering Center (BMEC), ITRI; and the Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB). Also, the National Science Council; the Council of Agriculture; and the Ministry of Economic Affairs have all put forward various biotechnology research plans. Taiwan currently has in place a vertical research and development structure, along with a horizontal division of labor. With the government firmly behind the development of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, this system is expected to lead to impressive results. Major experimental laboratories in Taiwan are well equipped for advanced biotech and bioengineering research and development. The country has trained many expert scientists in genetic engineering, cell engineering, biochemistry, microbiology, nano-biotechnology, and immunology. Midstream research units have also developed many technologies for transfer, including the development of diagnostic reagents, technology for gene cloning and protein expression, technology for the classification of microbiology and molecular biology, research in new drug screening, and new manufacturing processes for pharmaceutical bulk materials. Domestic research institutions such as the Veterans' General Hospital, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Taiwan University Hospital, and Chang Kung University Hospital have embarked on cooperative research programs; and have also established joint research programs with many overseas research agencies including MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Australia's United Science Research Institute, Scotland's Hematology Center, and others. It is hoped that within a short time, these cooperative ventures can help in creating a biomedical R&D institution that will be unique and valuable throughout Asia, leading Taiwan's biotechnology industry to a new era. Moreover, short-, mid-and long-term plans focusing on potential biotechnology products have been mapped out. Short-term plans focus on clinical trials/bio-equivalence, clinical animal experiments, biotech-related contract manufacturing, cord blood preservation services, bioinformatics, biochips, drug development, herbal medicine, physiological / biochemical monitoring systems. The mid- to long-term plans will focus on monoclonal antibody drugs, gene diagnostics and gene therapy, stem cell technologies, transgenic plants and animals, technology for developing pharmaceutical dosage forms, genetic engineers, and artificial organs. It is hoped that the development of these key technologies and products will support the successful expansion of the island's biotechnology sector and companies.
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