The world still faces many challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, however, in the middle of these difficult times lay new opportunities. The present era is critical for Taiwan to join the global technology race. In recent years, Taiwan’s government has been actively planning their blueprint of 2030 “Innovation, Inclusiveness and Sustainability”. By taking preemptive preparations, accelerating industrial transformation and promoting innovation, Taiwan is expected to lead in the global supply chain restructuring process and become a key force in the future global economy.
To be a leader in technological innovations, both academia and industry play a vital role. The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) collaborates with the Academia Sinica, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare to hold an exhibition that serves as a bridge connecting academia, research and development, and industry. It attracts top-class technology and scientific research.
In search of targeting technology that fits industrial needs, the event begins to accept applications until July 7, 2021. All projects supported by the grant programs of all the aforementioned ministries are qualified to compete for the award. Technology in the field of precision health, pandemic prevention, and aerospace are highly encouraged to apply.
This award will be evaluated in two criteria: (1) scientific breakthrough: the technology is in the world-leading positions, novel scientific research different from existing thinking, and technological breakthroughs. (2) industrial practicability: the technology is compatible with market demand, can create future economic benefits, and has the potential in industry-academia collaborations, interdisciplinary applications as well as establishing innovative models. The final technology will be selected through a rigorous selection process. The tech award winners will have the opportunity to display the technology and the research and development results.
Destructive and innovative thinking is critical when responding to the post-epidemic era. Taiwan will showcase innovative technology from the academia and research community in diversified formats. They focus on the digital transformation theme and technology such as precision health, aerospace, 5G, AI and semiconductors, and other technologies that can drive industrial innovation and promote international collaboration.
Taiwan has been at the forefront of technological innovation as the country proves its digital prowess by winning two awards for innovative new products and services. As reported by OpenGov Asia, Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) collected two awards under the support of the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). With these accolades, ITRI has delivered again with MetabColor as well as the AI-Based High-Density Shuttle Rack Delivery System.
The ITRI is a government-funded applied technology research institute with more than 6,000 employees. ITRI’s AI-Based High-Density Shuttle Rack Service System wins a gold medal in the Innovative Services, AI Applications category. The institute also took home a silver award for its MetabColor microbial textile dyes produced via a non-toxic, environmentally friendly and renewable process.
The Director-General of DoIT stated that it was no easy thing that ITRI’s AI technology won a gold medal in the Innovative Services, AI Applications category. The automated vertical warehousing system is developed for space-starved cities and the rack can be 14 stories high, saving at least twice as much space storage. Moreover, ITRI has been working with several companies to develop AI technology. The AI-based warehousing system optimises logistics efficiency to meet the increasing needs of e-commerce, cutting shipping time by 60% and helping to increase logistics performance during peak season.
The silver winner, MetabColor, uses modified microbes and the fermentation, separation, and purification processes to create natural dyes that are more environmentally friendly than chemical dyes. ITRI has been cooperating with leaders in textile manufacturing and speciality chemicals on the preliminary verification of the technology.
