CSMU and Its Affiliated Hospital Receive Multiple Honors at the 22nd National Innovation Awards

The award ceremony of the 22nd National Innovation Awards was held on January 17 in Taipei. Chung Shan Medical University (CSMU) and its affiliated hospital received seven awards across categories including innovation incubation, clinical innovation, academic research innovation, and startup development, making the University one of the most recognized institutions at this year’s event.

The award-winning projects covered a wide range of fields, such as industry–academia collaboration, clinical dentistry innovation, AI-assisted voice healthcare, assistive technologies for elderly care, biomedical applications derived from aquatic resources, and the translation of healthcare technologies into practical use. These achievements highlight the strong integration between the University and its affiliated hospital, as well as the effectiveness of interdisciplinary teamwork.

The National Innovation Awards were established in 2003 by a national organization promoting biomedical and healthcare industry development. Now in its 22nd year, the awards are evaluated by a panel of experts from academia, clinical medicine, industry, and finance, and are widely regarded as a highly credible indicator of innovation capacity in Taiwan.

In the innovation incubation category, CSMU was recognized for its systematic approach to integrating academic research and clinical resources. By strengthening industry–academia collaboration, technology transfer mechanisms, and startup support, the University has assisted multiple technologies in moving toward commercialization and real-world application.

In the clinical innovation category, the affiliated hospital was honored for developing biodegradable dental instruments made from plant-based fibers combined with bioplastics. Designed for disposable clinical use, these instruments help reduce infection risks while significantly lowering medical waste.

In the academic research innovation category, three projects received recognition. One project developed a modular dynamic elastic gel cushion using a pressure-dispersing structure for elderly and rehabilitation care, which has already been applied in practical settings. Another project utilized aquatic by-products to develop nano-liposome technologies for eye-care and antioxidant applications, demonstrating innovative biomedical reuse of natural resources. A third project introduced an AI-assisted vocal fold assessment system that converts endoscopic images into objective quantitative indicators, supporting clinical evaluation and voice health management.

In the startup development category, university-supported startup teams were recognized for innovations addressing sterilization process optimization through intelligent monitoring systems, as well as for multi-functional assistive devices designed to meet the needs of elderly and rehabilitation care. These projects demonstrate successful translation of academic research into practical healthcare solutions.

The University emphasized that these recognitions reflect a mature and stable model of innovation incubation, clinical translation, and industry linkage. Moving forward, CSMU will continue to focus on clinical needs, strengthen validation of research outcomes, and accelerate the implementation of innovative technologies to respond to healthcare and societal challenges.