MIRDC's R&D results have been recognized internationally again. The R&D 100 Awards, which is known as the Oscar for the technology world, unveiled the winners of 2020. MIRDC's technology was nominated for three awards and won two of them, putting MIRDC on the same list as renowned institutions like the MIT Lincoln Laboratory and NASA. MIRDC's performance continues to shine, enhancing the status and image of Taiwan's industrial technology worldwide.
One of the award-winning technologies, Controllable Hydro-Reactive Magnesium Alloy, can create hydrogen and magnesium, and zinc and calcium nutrients required for plant growth within a specific period through the water reaction of magnesium alloys. It can be used to regulate the growth rate of plants. At the same time, hydrogen changes plants' physiological hormone response and improves their ability to fend against adverse conditions. For plant cultivation, hydrogen can replace pesticide abuse and remove the climate restrictions on cultivation environments. This technology significantly enhances Taiwan's competitiveness in high economic value agriculture. This technology can also be applied to the medical industry. By controlling the degradation rate of Mg-Zn-Ca alloy, it can be used in the development of biodegradable medical implants, such as bone screws, hemostatic clips, and cardiovascular stents, to achieve uniform and slow degradation until they are completely absorbed by the human body. Thus, there is no need to remove the implants through a second operation, effectively reducing patients' discomfort. Currently, this technology has entered industrial application and been introduced by relevant domestic companies for collaborative development.
Dr. Chiu-Feng Lin, President of MIRDC, said that as a research-based legal institute, MIRDC will continue to support the sustainable operations and development of Taiwan's industries, and more importantly, link MIRDC's core technologies and proactively promote the transformation and upgrade of traditional industries through system integration, cross-discipline collaboration, and demonstration platforms and sites to enhance added value. This year's entry was recognized by R&D 100 Awards. MIRDC will keep moving and continue to promote the capability of R&D achievements to the world to leap onto the world stage.