As Taiwan enters a super-aged society, demand for health management and care continues to grow. At its dedicated pavilion during the 2026 Healthy Ageing Tech Show, the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT), Ministry of Economic Affairs, brings together four research organizations-the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC), Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI), and Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI). Across three themed zones-Health Management, Compassionate Care, and Rehabilitation Empowerment-the pavilion presents 30 senior health technology innovations. On the show's opening day, DoIT also facilitated the signing of a letter of intent between ITRI and TAICEND TECHNOLOGY, demonstrating strong momentum in research commercialization and industrial upgrading.

DoIT Director General Chao-Chung Kuo said that the purpose of technology research is to solve real problems in everyday life. Many featured solutions have already been introduced into home care, community service sites, hospitals, and long-term care institutions, while also helping companies transform their business models. One example is the Chronic Wound Care Service jointly developed by ITRI and TAICEND TECHNOLOGY. By bringing artificial intelligence into home-based wound management, the service allows home-care nurses to photograph and upload a wound; the system then automatically assesses its size and healing progress, enabling medical teams to deliver precise intervention at the earliest opportunity. The technology is expected to generate more than NT$400 million in output and investment and help TAICEND evolve from a conventional dressing manufacturer into a one-stop provider integrating AI, an app, and professional care services. DoIT will continue connecting industry, academia, research institutes, and medical organizations to accelerate commercialization and turn senior-care needs into new growth for the smart health sector.

DoIT noted that, according to the World Health Organization, approximately 528 million people worldwide have osteoarthritis, including about 365 million whose knees are affected. TTRI's Home-Based Digital Exercise Intervention System for Knee Osteoarthritis integrates joint-condition measurement, electrical stimulation support, and motion analysis, enabling older adults to undertake precise, convenient exercise training at home and improve rehabilitation outcomes. The system has completed a clinical trial at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of National Taiwan University Hospital and was selected as one of the expo's Top 10 Age-Friendly Technologies, Products, and Services. With the global knee-brace market projected to grow from US$6.51 billion in 2025 to US$9.39 billion in 2032, the solution shows significant potential in smart rehabilitation.

Featured Technologies

Protection You Can Wear: TTRI's Multimodal Physiological Monitoring Garment

TTRI has combined its fabric electrodes, which have generated approximately NT$12 million in technology-transfer revenue, with Quanta's medically certified electrocardiogram device. The result is a comfortable garment suitable for long-term physiological monitoring. Clinical evaluations are underway at Yuan-Kuo Hospital in Changhua, Chiayi Hospital, and E-Da Hospital. Estimated annual output is NT$500-600 million.

Eat and Swallow with Greater Ease: MIRDC's Oral Health and Swallowing Service

MIRDC integrates an oral light-therapy panel, a tongue-pressure feedback meter, and facial-exercise courses delivered through a digital mirror. The service helps older adults strengthen the muscles used for chewing and swallowing. It has been introduced at long-term care sites and community locations, supporting applications in devices, platforms, consumables, and professional services. Estimated annual output is NT$500-800 million.

Safe, Nutritious, and Appealing Meals: FIRDI's Customized 3D-Printed Nutrition Technology

FIRDI uses 3D printing to transform pureed ingredients into realistic-looking meals while precisely adjusting nutritional composition. The technology supports swallowing safety, adequate nutrition, and dignity at mealtimes. It has been transferred to Taiwan Farm Industry Co., Ltd. and can be expanded into care, food-service, and food-manufacturing settings, with an estimated NT$500 million increase in output.

The DoIT Pavilion at the 2026 Healthy Ageing Tech Show showcased innovations in smart healthcare, functional textiles, assistive technology, and more, demonstrating how technology can make daily life warmer, safer, and more dignified for older adults.