Hualien Youth Shine Globally: Tzu Chi University Wins Gold & Silver at Germany’s iENA Fair

(中央社訊息服務20251124 12:02:56)With guidance from the Youth Development Center of the Hualien County Government, an innovation team from Tzu Chi University earned both a gold and a silver medal at the 2025 International Trade Fair for Ideas, Inventions, and New Products (iENA) in Nuremberg, Germany. Their two award-winning entries were novel medical devices titled the “Multi-Point Medical Tubing Fixation and Adjustment Device” and the “Smart Restraint Device.” The team was led by Associate Professor Lin Chu-Chun, who also serves as Associate Director of Research and Development at the university’s Department of Nursing. The group included seven young researchers, among them graduate student Yu Tzu-I and undergraduates Yeh Chia-Yen, Huang Fu-Shan, Chen Chih-Ting, Li Wei-Chen, and Chan I-Ju. At the exhibition, the students and faculty proudly raised the national flag, the Hualien County flag, and the university flag, showcasing the confidence and talent of youth from Hualien in the field of medical innovation. In addition, Honorary President Lo Wen-Jui of Tzu Chi University received a gold medal and a special award from the German Inventors Association for his invention of a “Portable, Power-Free Backwash Water Purification Device.” His achievement reflects the university’s educational mission to integrate technological innovation with a deep sense of humanistic care and a commitment to sustainable development.

The iENA is one of the world’s most prestigious showcases for innovation. The 77th edition took place from November 1 to 3, 2025, drawing over 547 entries across 27 countries and regions. This year marked Tzu Chi University’s debut at iENA following the merger of its two campuses. The team’s impressive performance—winning both gold and silver medals—stood out among international competitors and brought well-earned recognition to the university’s innovation efforts.

Hualien County Mayor Hsu Chen-Wei offered her encouragement to the team before their departure. She urged the students to make the most of this international opportunity, to express their professional strengths with confidence, and to embrace creativity. She said she hoped they would expand their global perspective and eventually contribute their talents in clinical settings to improve healthcare quality. Mayor Hsu also encouraged the students to stay true to Tzu Chi’s humanistic values, combining technological innovation with people-centered care. She expressed her hope that the world would recognize Hualien’s ongoing contributions to smart healthcare and sustainable development.

Associate Director of Research and Development Lin Zu-Chun explained that the award-winning team was the result of two key training programs: the “Young Dreamers” Youth Training Program supported by the Youth Development Center of the Hualien County Government, and Tzu Chi University’s own Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. The County has consistently promoted youth innovation by linking talent cultivation with local industries, offering long-term support for development and implementation. Under the leadership of President Liu I-Chun, Tzu Chi University has pursued a strategy focused on applying academic research to real-world practice and integrating education with innovation. The university has invested heavily in medical technology development, aiming to cultivate a new generation of healthcare professionals equipped with both clinical insight and creative thinking. Among the undergraduate team members who competed this year, four are new immigrants or Indigenous youth. The team extended their heartfelt thanks to both the County Government and the University for their generous financial and logistical support, which enabled them to focus wholeheartedly on the international competition and showcase their capacity for innovation and global engagement.

The students described their trip to Germany as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step onto the international stage. Throughout the competition, they exchanged ideas with researchers from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, gaining valuable insight into the importance of aligning clinical needs with innovative design and international technical standards. During the event, each team member worked alongside German interpreters to present their clinical and professional knowledge. They also made the effort to explain their projects in English, helping to share Taiwan’s and Hualien’s achievements in medical innovation with a global audience. They expressed deep gratitude to the Hualien County Government and Tzu Chi University for providing the resources and encouragement that allowed a diverse group of young talents to shine with confidence on the world stage. They dedicated their success to all the students in Hualien who are working hard to pursue their dreams. The students also thanked their faculty mentors for guiding them every step of the way—from concept development and prototype design to clinical testing and science fair participation. Looking ahead, they pledged to keep growing, combining technology with humanistic care to protect patient safety and become a new generation of healthcare professionals who serve, innovate, and inspire meaningful change.

The President of the German Inventors Association and the association’s international public relations representative praised the Tzu Chi University team on-site for their strong spirit of innovation and the notable presence of female researchers. They expressed admiration for the level of female participation in Taiwan’s medical device research and development and announced plans to feature the team in an upcoming interview for the association’s official magazine. This remarkable achievement not only highlighted the creativity and dedication of young innovators from Hualien, but also added to Taiwan’s growing recognition in the global arena of invention and innovation.