Laying Groundwork for Precision Cell Therapy in Super-Aged Society: NSTC Promotes Industrialization of Regenerative Medicine

In recent years, Taiwan has faced significant medical challenges due to its super-aged society, including degenerative diseases, chronic disabilities, and cancer. Regenerative medicine has emerged as a key global biotech field and a growing industry. Today (24), the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) announced successful technology licensing, industry-academia collaborations, and startup integration. Multiple cell therapy technologies have made notable progress, and the NSTC has launched a regenerative medicine initiative with a budget of approximately NT$376 million, aiming to accelerate the commercialization of regenerative medical technologies.

Since 2022, the NSTC has been implementing the "Precision Regenerative Medicine Launch Program for Super-Aged Societies," with a total budget of about NT$376 million. Today’s announcement highlighted achievements, emphasizing that several technologies have already been successfully licensed and that a self-sustaining technological chain for regenerative medicine in Taiwan is being established.

The program includes cell therapies advancing into human clinical trials or regulatory review stages. Simultaneously, core technologies such as cell manufacturing, intelligent quality monitoring, gene transfection, and universal cell banks have been developed. The NSTC has also successfully facilitated technology transfer, industry-academia partnerships, and startup integration, accelerating the transition of research outcomes from laboratories to clinical applications and industrialization.

The NSTC actively promotes technology transfer and industry collaboration. So far, multiple technologies—including CAR-NK cell therapy, nano gene transfection platforms, cell culture techniques, 3D cell culture, and cell quality authentication—have been partnered with domestic biotech companies.

For example, AiPei Biomed, a startup spun off from Chang Gung University, continues to advance the commercialization of CAR-NK therapies. China Medical University has completed the licensing of its PPNP platform technology, and National Cheng Kung University has transferred key materials for cell culture. National Taiwan University and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University have also partnered with domestic biotech firms, gradually building a comprehensive development chain in Taiwan that links R&D, manufacturing, clinical validation, and commercialization.

The NSTC emphasized that regenerative medicine has become a critical domain in global biotech competition and a key driver for advancing precision medicine and upgrading the biotechnology industry. Moving forward, the council will deepen cross-ministerial, interdisciplinary, and industry-academia-medical collaborations, improve regulatory frameworks, manufacturing standards, and clinical validation systems. The goal is to accelerate the commercialization and clinical implementation of research outcomes, enhance Taiwan’s independent R&D capabilities and international competitiveness, and position Taiwan as a hub for regenerative medicine innovation and industrial development in the Asia-Pacific region.