NCKU Partners with Industry Members and Allied Universities to Highlight Smart Healthcare Innovation at BIO Asia–Taiwan 2026
Text and Photos: Innovation Headquarters
At BIO Asia–Taiwan 2026, National Cheng Kung University, led by President Meng-Ru Shen (front row, fourth from right), joins 25 teams — including corporate members, NCKU R&D teams, and partner universities of the Great South Research Commercialization Platform — to present innovative R&D achievements.
The 2026 BIO Asia–Taiwan Exhibition opened on July 16 at Hall 1 of the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. Led by President Meng-Ru Shen, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU; Booth N416) joined forces with corporate members, NCKU's R&D teams, and partner universities under the Great South Research Commercialization Platform — 25 teams in total — for a joint exhibition. The lineup featured innovations spanning AI-enabled smart medicine, precision testing, biosensing, smart healthcare, minimally invasive medicine, and wearable medical technology, highlighting NCKU's ability to integrate the R&D strengths of its hospital, academic units, industry partners, and allied universities, and to accelerate the translation of research into clinical application and industrial development.
National Cheng Kung University, National Health Research Institutes, and AnHorn Medicines Co., Ltd. jointly announced the latest progress on DBPR168, a Taiwan-developed neuroprotective drug candidate designed to address chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
During the exhibition, NCKU, National Health Research Institutes (NHRI), and AnHorn Medicines Co., Ltd. jointly announced the latest progress on DBPR168, a Taiwan-developed neuroprotective drug candidate designed to address chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. DBPR168 received FDA clearance for its Investigational New Drug (IND) application in March 2026, and a Phase I human clinical trial is now underway in the United States.
DBPR168 was developed over more than a decade by a research team jointly led by NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen, former NCKU Vice President Jang-Yang Chang, and Kak-Shan Shia, an investigator at NHRI's Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research. Starting from the clinical needs of cancer patients, the project advanced through basic research, drug development, and technology transfer, and has now reached the stage of human clinical trials — marking a significant milestone in Taiwan's homegrown new drug development.
The corporate members participating in the exhibition included teams from Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Changhua Christian Hospital, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, and Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, each presenting a range of smart healthcare technologies. Taichung Veterans General Hospital and V5med Inc. jointly developed an AI-assisted coronary artery imaging interpretation system capable of completing cardiovascular risk stratification within tens of seconds. Changhua Christian Hospital and Shuz Tung Machinery introduced an AI-powered hand hygiene training system that uses fluorescence image analysis to strengthen infection control. Chung Shan Medical University Hospital presented a wire-tightening device that improves on conventional wire fixation techniques, while Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital showcased a non-invasive salivary ketone detection platform offering rapid, highly sensitive biosensing.
NCKU joins partner universities of the Great South Research Industrialization Platform in presenting an AI-assisted otologic diagnostic system.
NCKU's R&D teams also presented a range of research outcomes with strong potential for practical application. These include a wearable lactate-sensing patch, developed jointly with Innolux Corporation, for use in exercise monitoring and health management, as well as a home-based care system from the CBIC Laboratory that integrates AI with wearable sensing technology. Other featured innovations include an exosome-based multi-cancer screening chip, AI-driven microswarm robotics, and a real-time cardiovascular testing platform — reflecting NCKU's substantial research achievements in smart healthcare, biosensing, and microfluidic chip technology in recent years.
NCKU and its corporate member Taichung Veterans General Hospital present an AI-assisted coronary artery imaging interpretation system.
NCKU led partner universities of the Great South Research Industrialization Platform in a joint exhibition, drawing on the Platform to integrate academic and research resources across southern Taiwan and showcase innovative outcomes born of cross-university collaboration. National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology presented an AI-assisted otologic diagnostic system; National Formosa University introduced an integrated AI-powered dental platform along with smart point-of-care testing (POCT) technology; and Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology unveiled an AI-enabled smart needle box that uses image recognition to reduce the risk of needles being inadvertently left in patients — together illustrating how the Platform's cross-institutional resource-sharing translates into tangible research outcomes.
Since 2021, NCKU has taken part in the BIO Asia–Taiwan Exhibition for six consecutive years, leading nearly 200 teams in this major annual international event. Beyond presenting a range of innovative technologies with strong potential for clinical application and commercialization, NCKU used this year's exhibition to deepen engagement with government, industry, academic, and research communities at home and abroad. Through these exchanges, the university aims to expand opportunities for technical collaboration and industry linkages, accelerate the real-world application of research outcomes, and further strengthen the international competitiveness of Taiwan's biomedical technology sector.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2026-07-23