In a recent announcement, the prestigious R&D 100 Awards, known as the “Oscars of the Research and Development world,” revealed the list of winners for 2025. This year, Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) achieved multiple recognitions for cutting-edge technologies, securing a spot among the top 100 global innovations. A team from ITRI traveled to the United States to receive the awards and held a press conference in Silicon Valley on November 19 (Wednesday) to share the good news with the Taiwanese community in the Bay Area.
The winning technologies this year encompass a wide range of groundbreaking advancements, including the bio-inspired ligament scaffolding, recycled fiber-remanufactured low-carbon waterproof breathable membrane, AI-optimized high-activity waste tire water jet cleaning process technology, and elevator dynamic energy storage system.
The “bio-inspired ligament scaffolding” took four years to develop, integrating expertise from the biomedical, materials chemistry, and textile industries. Collaboratively developed by ITRI, Sunway Materials Co., Ltd., Horizon Biotech Co., Ltd., and the Textile Industry Research Institute, this technology combines high-performance polymer bio-ceramic composite fibers and bio-inspired structures to accelerate the integration of ruptured ligaments with tissues, reducing recovery time by approximately 30% and increasing the maximum rupture load to three times that of current commercial products. It is suitable for both sports injuries and elderly patients and has obtained patents in Japan, the European Union, and the United States.
Dr. Pei-Ying Tsai from ITRI’s regenerative medicine technology division stated that this achievement elevates the weaving technology originally used for “20-dollar shoelaces” to the production of high-value “60,000-dollar artificial ligaments,” enhancing industrial added value.
This technology enables the direct conversion of hard-to-recycle mixed waste textiles, such as PET/PU or PET/OP, into high-performance thin films with waterproof and breathable properties, without the need for disassembly or color separation.
Developed in collaboration between ITRI and Hsin-E Industrial Co., Ltd., this technology has been implemented into Hsin-E’s production line, obtaining GRS and bluesign® international environmental certifications to assist the textile industry in accelerating its transition towards green circularity.
Dr. Wei-Cheng Tang from ITRI highlighted that the flexibility and performance of the new film material surpass even that of native materials, expanding from heavy outerwear to a variety of functional clothing styles, increasing recycling rates, and creating positive cyclic benefits. In the future, it may aid international brands in sending old clothes back to Taiwan for recycling and remanufacturing, establishing a complete closed-loop circular pattern.
Developed by ITRI, this technology transforms scrapped tires into high-activity rubber powder for reuse in tire materials and shoe soles, promoting resource circulation and reducing pollution.
Utilizing AI intelligent control combined with high-speed waterjets, a large tire can be processed in as quickly as three minutes with stable quality and safe operations. This technology has spawned a new startup called “Miraculous Water Cycle Materials” from ITRI, facilitating commercialization.
The founder of Miraculous Water, Conrad Cheng, noted that this achievement has been a culmination of his efforts since 2005, boasting advantages such as “high activity, stability, low carbon, non-toxic, and impurity-free,” along with the ability to recycle wastewater, representing a truly eco-friendly and recyclable green process.
APh ePower, a spin-off company from ITRI, has developed the “elevator dynamic energy storage system,” which captures regenerative energy generated during elevator operation, achieving over 90% energy conversion efficiency within 30 seconds using efficient DC converters. When coupled with aluminum batteries, it can be used for real-time energy storage and backup power supply.
Xiu-Hsien Su, Director of Development at APh ePower, mentioned that after system integration, energy savings exceeding 40% on average can be achieved, and in cases of power interruptions, the system aids in safely returning the elevator to the designated floor, offering dual benefits of energy conservation and public safety.
APh ePower has also pioneered the Gold Standard Elevator Carbon Rights Methodology, enabling elevators worldwide to apply for carbon rights, showcasing Taiwan’s international influence in green energy innovation. This technology has been extended to applications such as hybrid electric vehicles, AI data center BBU, AGV, and smart robots.
At the event, led by Guifa Yang, Director of Marketing and Communication at ITRI, nearly twenty representatives attended. Among the participants were guests including Vice Consul General and Team Leader Ai-Lan Chen from the San Francisco office, as well as Ming-Jer Wang, General Manager of ITRI North America.
ITRI has now won the R&D 100 Award for 18 consecutive years, accumulating 69 technology awards and successfully collaborating with 99 domestic and international industry giants or transferring technologies. ITRI stated that it will continue to be market-driven, align with industry scenarios, promote innovative technologies with international competitiveness, assist in upgrading Taiwan’s industries, and expand globally. ◇