To help medical device suppliers continue to expand international markets during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC) and the Hsinchu Science Park Bureau (HSPB), Ministry of Science and Technology, jointly organized the Taiwan-Europe Medical Device Online Matchmaking Conference, inviting well-known companies from Germany and Belgium to one-on-one precision matchmaking meetings. Discussions at the meetings were lively.
Companies that participated in this matchmaking conference include General Biologicals (nucleic acid detection/ELISA/rapid test reagent), Instant NanoBiosensors (Light Sensing Biomarker Analyzer), Tyson Bioresearch (Autocoding Blood Glucose Monitoring System), Taiwan Surgical (laparoscopic hemostatic clips), Brain Navi Biotechnology (Nasal Swab Robot), and RedEye Biomedical (photoelectric hemoglobin sensor). Participants said that at a time when everyone is hanging in the balance due to the pandemic, such activities are needed to inject confidence into the companies and break the predicament of being unable to expand overseas due to pandemic restrictions. The conference helps companies to break through national boundaries and continue to market internationally during these trying times.
HSPB indicated that 2020 will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the park. Facing the global COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, Hsinchu Science Park has not been impacted and has grown against the trend, reaching new heights. Thanks to the foundation that companies in Hsinchu Science Park have inherited and laid over the years, they were able to open new prospects despite the adverse impact of the pandemic and become the pride of Taiwan. In 2019, the biotech industry created NT$13.543 billion in sales, and the revenue of the biotech industry of Hsinchu Science Park in 2020 was NT$14.645 billion, which is still up 8.13% over the same period last year. This shows that Hsinchu Science Park companies continued to proactively invest and expand their layout.
Dr. Chiu-Feng Lin, President of MIRDC, indicated that since last year, many physical exhibitions, missions, and other trade promotion activities around the world have been impacted, making it difficult for companies to promote international business. To help keep business opportunities steady for medical device companies during the challenging pandemic year, MIRDC continued to make contact and win global opportunities. Through this event, a new business matchmaking model has been created for zero-touch business opportunities. HSPB will plan to launch a series of integrated online services, including online matchmaking, international biotech forums, and new product launches, to provide companies with more opportunities for international exposure, thereby facilitating business cooperation opportunities such as international cooperation or mutual investments.