The 2025 Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan, Asia-Pacific's largest medtech event, took place at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center on December 4. With the support of the Department of Industrial Technology, Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC) hosted the technology transfer signing ceremony and product launch for the e-rTMS System. This event officially announced that MIRDC’s independently developed Autonomous Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) System has successfully reached commercialization and has been transferred to Formosa Heavy Industries, unveiling a new chapter for the development of Taiwan’s smart healthcare industry. Representatives from government, industry, academia, research, and medical gathered at the signing ceremony to witness this significant milestone and the launch of this technological achievement. Distinguished guests included Chao-Chung Kuo, Director General of Department of Industrial Technology, Ministry of Economic Affairs; Chia-Ju Liu, Chairman of MIRDC; Yu-Feng Huang, Vice President of Formosa Heavy Industries; Wei J. Chen, Vice President of National Health Research Institutes (NHRI); and Dr. Chih-Wei Hsu, Department of Geriatric and Community Rehabilitation Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (KCGH).
In recent years, the global healthcare industry has actively advanced digital healthcare and precision medicine. The integration of smart hospitals with neuromodulation technologies has emerged as a new trend. Since 2022, MIRDC has invested in next-generation rTMS system development, integrating core technologies such as high-speed pulse control and multi-axis magnetic field modulation, successfully creating an innovative treatment system designed to improve psychiatric disorders. To ensure clinical safety and efficacy, MIRDC partnered with NHRI to conduct animal testing, establishing a comprehensive preclinical research and development linkage. This solid foundation emphasizes Taiwan’s capabilities in developing smart healthcare technologies independently.
Chao-Chung Kuo, Director General of Department of Industrial Technology, Ministry of Economic Affairs, noted that with the global population of mental health patients increasing annually, demand for non-invasive neuromodulation therapies has risen significantly. The e-rTMS system, developed by MIRDC, features key technologies like high-speed pulse output and multi-axis magnetic field control. In collaboration with Formosa Heavy Industries for mass production and clinical promotion, this system will effectively drive the upgrade of Taiwan’s smart medical device industry. The implementation of this technology will inject new momentum into medical device development, clinical innovation, and supply chain localization, further advancing Taiwan’s medtech industry towards global competitiveness.
Chia-Ju Liu, Chairman of MIRDC, expressed gratitude to Director Tzyy-Ker Sue’s leadership and Dr. Boi-Wei Huang’s team for MIRDC’s continuous efforts in promoting autonomous smart healthcare technologies and enabling clinical application. This technology transfer to Formosa Heavy Industries, a company with strong manufacturing and system-integration capabilities, marks the formation of Taiwan’s rTMS industry chain. In the future, both parties will collaborate on developing clinically oriented applications, drive opportunities for domestic medical devices, and strive for international market entry. By integrating resources from industry, academia, research, and medical, MIRDC hopes to cultivate a high follow-up rate, out-of-pocket treatment market, ushering in a new era of smart healthcare solutions and neuromodulation therapies in Taiwan.