President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) spoke at the opening ceremony of Taiwan’s first Healthy Aging Tech Expo, stating that with the advancement of the health industry, big names in the international biomedical technology community will embrace Taiwan. Organized by the Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry (IBMI) and other organizations in response to the country’s super-aged society status as of next year, the event is open from August 2 through 4 at the Taipei World Trade Center.
The President said that a healthy Taiwan includes the implementation of preventive education, good nutrition, a sports industry, and medical treatment. He emphasized that the government will be establishing a Sports Development and Industry Ministry to be responsible for health promotion work, in addition to an approved NT$10 billion (US$305.5 million) budget for development plans, health insurance, medical staff working environment improvements, and cancer research.
Lai elaborated that the government also will be investing heavily in the infrastructure required for new technologies, especially AI, to be applied in the medical industry. He pointed out that Taiwan's population of 23 million can serve well as a testing ground for innovations not only in medical care but also in food and water, clothing, housing, transportation, education, entertainment, and other frameworks.
Lai said that any successful applications can be marketed internationally, therefore Taiwan must set its goals ambitiously and have the people of the world in mind.