The global medical device industry is steadily on the rise, where the ongoing increase in production value is driven by demand for medical care in emerging markets, aging populations, and the prevalence of chronic diseases.

The Instrument Technology Research Center (ITRC) of National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs), Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Taiwan Surgical Corporation, and Lumos Technology Co., Ltd. have jointly announced a collaborative project on the development of an "Endoscopic navigation system" and a “5.6 mm intelligent transnasal endoscope.” The project is estimated to bring an annual production value of over NTD 2 billion to component manufacturers and material suppliers in Taiwan. It is also expected to claim a share of the global gastroscope market, where annual consumption exceeds NTD 20 billion.

The work breakdown of the project is as follows: the ITRC will be responsible for the optical design of the ultrathin endoscope lenses, recording and mapping of endoscopic images of the esophagus and stomach, and constructing a databa

According to the Vice Superintendent of Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Dr. Deng Chyang Wu, the entry level criteria for these types of medical device are more challenging. Therefore, this opportunity is to the advantage of the ICT industry in Taiwan; not only will it support the establishment and development of the local medical device industry, but also strengthen competitiveness against international medical device companies in the future.