NCKU and NICA sign MoU to focus on technology research and development and industrial innovation in the longevity economy
Written by NCKU Office of Internation Affairs. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and the National Innovation Center for Aging (NICA) signed MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) on September 11.
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and the National Innovation Center for Aging (NICA) signed MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) on September 11. In the future, the two parties will work together to promote research on aging and longevity health industries, and use innovative and sustainable models to promote industrial development.
NCKU Executive Vice President Hong-Chen Chen pointed out that tthe super-aging population is not only a trend in Taiwan, but also a common challenge across the world.
NCKU Executive Vice President Hong-Chen Chen pointed out that Taiwan will soon enter a super-aged society in 2025, with an average of about 1 elderly person in 5 people. However, the super-aging population is not only a trend in Taiwan, but also a common challenge across the world. Aging has been a long-term research direction of NCKU. In addition, NCKU Hospital has been approved by the Executive Yuan to build Taiwan's first geriatric hospital to provide integrated medical care for the elderly, develop the fields of elderly medicine and smart care, and cultivate professional talents.
Executive Vice President Chen stated that NCKU is as honored as always to be a part of global partnerships. In today's world, we confront a variety of global difficulties that necessitate collaboration and teamwork. Through today’s MOU signing, NCKU and NICA hope to provide the mutual benefits and strengthen importance of promoting the global ageing society to facilitate UK and Taiwanese healthy longevity, with actions including coordinated teaching activities, research and innovative projects and joint publications.
Prof Lynne Corner, Director for Voice and Deputy Director for NICA said,NICA+Voice and NCKU as a symbol of our commitment to work together on innovation for healthy ageing - and strengthen links between UK and Taiwan.
Prof Lynne Corner, Director for Voice and Deputy Director for NICA said, “We are delighted to sign this MOU between NICA+Voice and NCKU as a symbol of our commitment to work together on innovation for healthy ageing - and strengthen links between UK and Taiwan.”
British Office Taipei stated, “Congratulations to NICA and NCKU on becoming partners in aging research to jointly gain insights into the needs of aging societies. We believe that UK-Taiwan cooperation will bring more technological and industrial innovation and benefit our societies.”
Prof. Sun-Yuan Hsieh, Vice President for International Affairs, stated that NCKU operates a deep international partner network, develops featured research centers, and houses outstanding scientists and elite students. It stands out in various domestic and international rankings, and at the same time, it implements research into social care.
During the collaboration discussion, Prof. Sun-Yuan Hsieh, Vice President for International Affairs, stated that NCKU operates a deep international partner network, develops featured research centers, and houses outstanding scientists and elite students. It stands out in various domestic and international rankings, and at the same time, it implements research into social care. Prof. Yan-Shen Shan, Dean of College of Medicine shared the core research themes of College of Medicine, which aims to develop national-level projects and centers in the medium to long term, including geriatric medicine, microbiome research, diabetes research, regenerative medicine and cell therapy, neuroscience, and comparative medicine. He also highlighted some of the recent important research findings and contributions in neuroscience, pharmacy, and geriatric medicine. Prof. Liang-Ming Whang, Director General of Innovation Headquarters illustrated NCKU’s cooperation model with enterprises. Through talent cultivation, joint research centers, knowledge translation, technology transfer, and start-up guidance, NCKU creates a mutually beneficial industry-academia partnership. Prof. Yi-Ching Yang, Director of Community Healthcare Center and Department of Geriatric and Gerontology, NCKU Hospital said that in the future, the NCKU Geriatric Hospital will not only integrate smart medical care, but also focus on long-term care and daily health services, extending from the hospital to the community.
The group photo
NCKU representatives participated in the signing ceremony include Executive Vice President Hong-Chen Chen; Prof. Sun-Yuan Hsieh, Vice President for International Affairs; Prof. Yan-Shen Shan, Dean of College of Medicine; Prof. Liang-Ming Whang, Director General of Innovation Headquarters; Prof. Yi-Ching Yang, Director of Community Healthcare Center and Department of Geriatric and Gerontology, NCKU Hospital; Prof. Ching-Ju Chiu, Director of Institute of Gerontology; and Assoc. Prof. Chia-Hsiang Lin, Director, International Relations Division. NICA delegates include Prof Lynne Corner, Director for Voice and Deputy Director for NICA; Ms. Annie Yi, Director, NICA Taiwan Office; Ms. Lynn Li, Taiwan Representative, NICA Taiwan Office. Representatives from British Office Taipei include Mr. Austin Shih, Head of Science & Innovation, Economic Cooperation & Growth Section; Ms. Ginell Hsu, Science & Innovation Officer, Economic Cooperation & Growth Section; Mr. Joseph Tzeng, Senior Commercial Officer, Technology Team, Trade Healthcare and Life Sciences.
NCKU established the Institute of Gerontology as early as 2006, which was the first institute of gerontology in Taiwan at that time. It recognized that the treatment of geriatric diseases is not only a medical problem, but also faces the changing trends of population aging and life extension. The academic field covers individual physiological, psychological, and social aging experiences and processes, emphasizing the integration of disciplines. NCKU Geriatric Hospital is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and become the country's first exclusive hospital for senior citizens. It emphasizes a wall-less community hospital and is committed to integrated care for the elderly through introducing smart medical care, innovating care models, and extending medical care for the elderly from the hospital to the community. Integrating knowledge applications such as engineering, computer science, and planning and design, NCKU Geriatric Hospital is expected to become the forward-looking R&D and clinical application base of smart medical industry chain in the Greater South.
NICA, established with funding from the British government, is a research center at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. It aims to develop into a national-level institute and is expected to become independent from Newcastle University by the end of 2024 and become an independent organization. Focusing on scientific research and development and industrial innovation in the aging industry, especially the application of AI services, NICA conducts cross-domain cooperation with industry, government and academia and is committed to promoting intelligent services and research in the aging and longevity health industry and promoting industrial development with innovative and sustainable business models. VOICE (Value Our Intellectual Capital and Experience), a sister organization established by NICA in 2007, has established international partners around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Italy. It cooperates with universities and industries in the UK and many countries to enhance research in the field of longevity development. In the coming years, VOICE will also be set up in Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and Spain to connect industry and academia researchers from various countries with international standards and enhance research in the field of longevity.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2024-09-11