Changhua Incubation center works out biotech wonders

This article was published by the Macroview Weekly on August 1, 2007. It reports that cutting-edge research in biotechnology is being brought into the competitive market of agricultural products in Taiwan with help from an incubation center.

The Small and Medium Enterprise Incubation Center of Dayeh University in central Taiwan's Changhua County has developed a series of innovative food products, including vinegar and wine made from burdocks and plums, by using probiotics and yeasts.

Despite the great variety of agricultural products being launched, the agriculture industry has been struggling to deal with unprofitable food products, which undermine research and development by keeping potential entrepreneurs away from involvement. So what magic can an incubation center bring into the picture?

“The incubation center provides the technology to facilitate the enhancement of the product values for the small and medium enterprises (SME) of the agriculture industry”, said officials from the incubation center.

Surrounded by farms and orchards, the Dayeh University has a close bond with the agriculture industry in Changhua County. Since its establishment in 1997, the incubation center has seen more than half of the SMEs coming to receive technical support as related to the agriculture industry. A total of 16 SMEs at Dayeh University have access to its research resources.