Vice Chancellor, delegation cultivate partnerships in Taiwan

Vice Chancellor Mark Rosenblatt traveled to Taiwan during Aug. 3–8, leading a UC Davis Health delegation focused on strengthening partnerships with technology companies, research institutes, and universities.

Organized by the UC Davis Health Ventures, part of the Innovation and Economic Development Office, the trip advanced UC Davis Health’s global strategy to expand collaboration in biomedical innovation, artificial intelligence, digital health, translational research and commercialization while showcasing Aggie Square as an international hub for interdisciplinary health innovation.

The UC Davis Health delegation included Chief Ventures Officer Don Taylor and Vice Dean for Research at the School of Medicine Kim Elaine Barrett.

Rosenblatt said, “UC Davis Health is a global innovator committed to turning bold ideas and medical research into better health for patients and communities throughout Northern California and beyond. By building partnerships with Taiwan’s technology, research and academic leaders, we can accelerate discovery, advance transformative solutions and improve lives worldwide.”

Collaborative opportunities

After arriving in Taipei on Aug. 3, the delegation began meetings on Aug. 4 at the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Hsinchu. Rosenblatt toured ITRI’s Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, met with senior leadership and presented an overview of UC Davis Health. Discussions focused on collaborative opportunities in regenerative medicine, diagnostics, medical devices, digital health, cancer research, cell and gene therapy, and commercialization.

Taylor said, “Potential areas of collaboration include connecting selected Taiwanese biomedical startups and technologies at Aggie Square with UC Davis clinical experts, validation capabilities, commercialization resources, investors, and U.S. market-entry pathways. We also discussed opportunities to advance joint projects in areas such as cell and gene therapy, cancer, medical devices, imaging, and digital health.”

BioMedX conference

On Aug. 5, the delegation visited Compal in Taipei, where executives demonstrated emerging health care technologies in artificial intelligence, neurotechnology, smart care and digital therapeutics.

Later, Rosenblatt traveled to Taoyuan for the BioMedX Conference, where he delivered a keynote presentation titled, “UC Davis as a Global Innovation Ecosystem for Translational Collaboration with Taiwan.” The event brought together nearly 200 Taiwanese biotechnology companies. Rosenblatt highlighted UC Davis Health’s research strengths and Aggie Square’s role in accelerating innovation, clinical validation and industry partnerships.

Taylor noted, “We were impressed by Taiwan’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and the many opportunities to build meaningful partnerships that can advance health product innovation worldwide.”

Academic exchanges

The delegation continued its outreach on Aug. 6 with visits to National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and the National Taiwan University College of Medicine in Taipei. Rosenblatt met with university leaders to discuss research collaboration, academic exchanges and future institutional partnerships before touring National Taiwan University Hospital and its educational facilities.

On Aug. 7, Rosenblatt visited National Tsing Hua University in Hsinchu, where discussions centered on biomedical research and academic collaboration. He later returned to Taipei for meetings with Taiwania Capital Management Corporation to explore startup partnerships and commercialization strategies.

The delegation departed Taipei on Aug. 8 after a week of engagement that cultivated UC Davis Health’s international relationships and created new opportunities to advance partnerships across Taiwan