To cultivate pharmaceutical professionals with strong practical competencies, the Bachelor’s Degree Program in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at National Taiwan University School of Pharmacy will officially launch in Academic Year 115. The program integrates academic training with hands-on experience, arranging for students to undertake internships at pharmaceutical companies during the second semester of their senior year. It has already established partnerships with several leading pharmaceutical companies in Taiwan.
As part of its industry engagement initiatives, the program recently organized a visit to TaiMed Biologics Inc., providing students with valuable exposure to real-world pharmaceutical research and development.
The visit was led by Program Director Chia-Ron Yang and Assistant Professor Wei-Ren Ko. The event opened with welcoming remarks by Jimmy Chang, Chief Executive Officer of TaiMed Biologics Inc., who expressed his encouragement at seeing students from diverse academic backgrounds demonstrate strong interest in the pharmaceutical industry.
In his remarks, Jimmy Chang emphasized that new drug development is a highly complex and demanding process that depends on two critical factors: sustained, long-term investment and close collaboration across multiple departments. He further noted that with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies, processes such as drug target identification, candidate screening, and development decision-making are increasingly supported by more efficient analytical tools, potentially reducing both the time and cost required for drug development.
At the same time, he underscored that pharmaceutical research and development continues to rely heavily on rigorous experimental validation, strict regulatory compliance, and scalable manufacturing processes—each requiring long-term commitment and interdisciplinary collaboration.
During the visit, students gained foundational insights into pharmaceutical R&D and regulatory workflows. Through guided explanations by industry professionals, they were introduced to research equipment, regulatory requirements, and the operational practices of the pharmaceutical sector. These on-site observations and exchanges enabled students to better understand industry expectations and explore potential career pathways.
Program Director Chia-Ron Yang also reminded students that June 8 is the application deadline for internal transfers and double majors at National Taiwan University, encouraging interested students to apply within the designated period. The visit concluded in a dynamic and engaging learning atmosphere.
Looking ahead, the program will continue to deepen its collaboration with industry partners to enhance students’ practical training and cultivate pharmaceutical professionals with global perspectives and strong research capabilities, contributing to the continued advancement of Taiwan’s biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.