NYCU and Chiayi University Win Six Gold Medals in Japan for Herbal Medicine Innovation

(中央社訊息服務20260514 14:54:03)As Taiwan accelerates efforts to modernize its herbal medicine industry through science and technology, a joint research team from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) and National Chiayi University has gained international recognition for combining smart agriculture, nanotechnology, and biomedical innovation.

Led by NYCU Professor Wen-Liang Chen and Chiayi University professors Cheng-Nan Chen and Ming-Ju Lin, the cross-university team developed a series of innovations based on herbal medicine-derived nanovesicles — nanoscale biomaterials extracted from medicinal plants cultivated through smart agriculture systems. The research earned six gold medals and two special awards at the 2026 40th International Innovation and Invention Competition (IIIC) in Japan, held in Tokyo on May 7–8.

The award-winning research combined NYCU’s strengths in smart healthcare, engineering biology, and intelligent cultivation technologies with Chiayi University’s expertise in medicinal plant research, green extraction methods, and agricultural innovation.

Using locally cultivated medicinal herbs, the team successfully developed high-purity herbal nanovesicles with potential applications in elderly skin care, post-procedure recovery, regenerative medicine, and pet healthcare, highlighting the commercialization potential of Taiwan-grown herbal medicine technologies.

The achievement also reflects a broader collaboration between the two universities aimed at building a comprehensive herbal medicine ecosystem spanning cultivation, extraction, pharmacological research, and clinical application.

Earlier this year, NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin led a delegation from the university’s College of Medicine to Chiayi University for academic exchanges focused on herbal medicine modernization and precision health.

Lin said NYCU’s Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine — launched in 2024 as the first such program at a national university in Taiwan — aims to cultivate a new generation of physicians trained in both traditional medicine and modern scientific methodologies, including artificial intelligence, molecular medicine, and neuroscience. “Our goal is to build a complete value chain for Taiwan’s herbal medicine industry, from smart cultivation and standardized production to clinical validation and healthcare applications,” Lin said.

Meanwhile, researchers at Chiayi University have been developing IoT-enabled cultivation systems for medicinal herbs and preservation systems for rare Taiwanese medicinal plants, while also translating their research findings into functional health products.

Chiayi University President Han-Chien Lin said the partnership demonstrates Taiwan’s potential to integrate agriculture, biotechnology, and medicine amid growing global demand for natural healthcare products.

The two universities are now working to establish standardized mass-production systems for herbal nanovesicles and expand industry partnerships to accelerate commercialization and international collaboration.