SI2C 2012 Midyear Announcement

18 JUN 2012 WDM Group PR Network HSINCHU, TAIWAN--(Marketwire - June 17, 2012) - In early June, Taiwan Supra Integration and Incubation Center (SI2C) had their first new drug portfolio advisory group (NDPAG) meeting to discuss progress on the mapping and capability building of R and D drug discovery and development as well as review of opportunities and technologies proposed by the work group for full due diligence. The advisory group endorsed value chain mapping of lung cancer, liver cancer, and TB/MDR-TB, with suggestions on steps to further strengthen Taiwan capability to discover and develop new drugs against these diseases of high medical need in Taiwan, China, and other Asia-Pacific countries. Among seven opportunities reviewed for entering full due-diligence step for incubation and seed funding, one project was approved by the advisory group. 

A similar medical device portfolio advisory group meeting is being scheduled for late July.  To gain better access to global technology opportunities, Dr. Whaijen Soo from SI2C and a member of the BioTaiwan Committee (BTC), will discuss with other committee members at the mid-year BTC meeting in Boston during BIO Convention and seek their help in reaching out to academic and VC communities in US, Europe and Asia.  During BIO, on June 21st, Dr. Soo will also moderate a session to highlight current Taiwan effort on drug and medical device R and D value chain capability building, with speakers from the government, academia, and industry. This effort hopefully will establish Taiwan as center of excellence for R and D in new drugs and medical devices for certain diseases and product categories, leading to better and more collaboration with international partners in the future. On July 24 during BioBusiness Asia Conference, SI2C will host a forum on models for new drug R and D incubation center with participating incubation center leaders from Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the US to share their experience and explore opportunities to collaborate in the future. SI2C Taiwan was established in November 2011 to facilitate nation-wide value-chain mapping and capability building for new drugs and medical devices research and development. It is also responsible for domestic and global sourcing and selective incubation of new technologies for eventual tech-transfer to, and full value-chain support of, new company formation. In addition, SI2C envisions a seed fund to provide early-phase financing for academic research and development teams as well as start-up new drug and medical device companies on activities that will otherwise be funded. Finally, it supports Taiwan government in content-planning and management for new-generation, one-stop biotechnology parks, and establishing talent training programs for future entrepreneurial leaders.