On August 24, 2016, the MIRDC and MEM Dental Technology Co., Ltd. signed a MOU to co-develop nickel-titanium alloy dental braces. Both parties will cooperate in the development of key technology and production process. The objective is to provide Taiwan’s medical devices industry with innovative and high-value metal material and manufacturing technology.
In the past, Taiwan has relied on foreign imports for its high-end metal raw materials. Thus, domestic users were not able to master the materials’ characteristics, which limited development in related industries. Realizing domestic development trends, and with the support of the DOIT, Ministry of Economic Affairs, MIRDC is implementing a “High-value Metal Material and Manufacturing Technology Development Project” to improve innovation and added value to Taiwan’s metal materials. Technology transfer and cooperation in this project is expected to promote industrialization of nickel-titanium alloy materials and improve Taiwan’s productivity of high-end alloy materials. MIRDC also cooperates with the Tohoku University Institute for Materials Research (Japan) in powder and electron beam additive manufacturing technology, and has successfully developed nickel-titanium alloy powder used for additive manufacturing. This cooperation has also resulted in the establishment of the first electron beam additive manufacturing laboratory in Taiwan, which assists Taiwan medical devices makers to step into the high-end customized medical device market.
MEM Dental Technology is working with MIRDC to form a Nickel-Titanium Alloy Dental Brace R&D Alliance. The short-term objective of the alliance is to develop material and production technology for dental braces. The long-term objective is to expand the alliance to upstream material makers and downstream hospitals and product consumers. This will link the upstream, midstream and downstream of the dental correction industry and create a pattern of alliance for Taiwan’s biotechnology and medical care industry. In addition, this will create opportunities for technology complementation and market development, promote cross-industry integration and cooperation, and improve the overall international competitiveness of the industry.