Objectives
With the aspiration to support the development of biotechnology in Taiwan, the Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC) was founded in September 2019 as a part of the National Biotechnology Research Park. The objectives of BioTReC align with government initiatives to accelerate bio-entrepreneurship from early discovery stages to commercialization. The center consists of three divisions, including the Translational Medicine Division, Innovation Incubation Division (BioHub Taiwan), and Smart Healthcare Division. The establishment of BioTReC helps to forge a professional and innovative ecosystem that facilitates new drug discovery, as creation of a thriving biotechnology industry will ultimately enhance human health and welfare.
Mission
1. Solicit Biomedical Translational Projects
BioTReC solicits the most promising proposals for projects that seek to translate biomedical technologies from basic research to clinical application. Selected projects generally address urgent social issues, have exciting potential for high-impact application, or require public funding to overcome deficiencies in current medical practice. BioTReC provides the selected translational projects with the opportunity to conduct research activities within the park and supplies them with funding and state-of-the-art core facilities to accelerate biomedical research and development.
2. Provide Core Facilities and Technical Services
The core facilities at the National Biotechnology Research Park (NBRP) provide researchers at NBRP and nationwide with cutting-edge instrumentation and specialized technical services, which help to accelerate the pace of R&D for innovative new drugs (small molecules, biologics, antibodies, botanicals, etc.), precision medicines, and medical devices. Our goal is to facilitate successful progression of IND-enabling studies, in order to enhance the output and international competitiveness of the biotech industry in Taiwan.
3. Recruit and Incubate Biotech Companies
The Incubation Innovation Division (BioHub Taiwan) was established to provide companies stationed in the park with holistic services and pivotal technologies. In order to build an all-in-one service model that comprises all information and resources from the government, BioHub has invited agencies that directly impact biomedicine research – including the Biomedical Industry Innovation Promotion (BIIP) Program Office, Drug Commercialization Center (DCC), Medical Device Commercialization Center (MDDC), Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries Promotion Office (BPIPO) and Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) – to form a joint office that serves in an advisory capacity. This office facilitates technological collaboration, regulatory coordination, and commercialization to nurture the growth of biomedicine seedlings.
4. Construct a Strong Biotech Ecosystem
Another important mission of BioTReC is to stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration between academia, industry and government agencies in order to enhance the international competitiveness of new drug development at NBRP. Leveraging the robust platform in the park, BioTReC organizes various forums, meetups, and seminars to extend the research power and implementation capabilities of start-up and resident companies. The ecosystem in the park provides an excellent environment to foster talent, encourage sharing and exchanging of information, and match potential businesses, creating ample opportunities to realize the creation of new biotechnologies.
5. Develop Biotech Talent
To foster an entrepreneurial mindset and develop business skills for biotech start-ups, BioTReC is planning to launch the Taiwan Biotech Innovation Academy (TBIA) in the near future. The TBIA will consist of a series of training programs that will help Biotech talent succeed at different phases and stages. The academy will not only offer professional development activities, but it will also include entrepreneur mentality coaching and professional mentorship.