CYCU’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, led by Associate Professor Cheng-An Lin, partnered with Chao-Chiang Technology Co., Ltd. to win the 22nd National Innovation Award (Academia–Industry Innovation Category, 2025) with their “Plug-and-Play Visual Nano Optical Imaging System for Real-Time Liquid Biopsy.” The technology has completed pilot production and passed multiple safety and compatibility tests, demonstrating strong readiness for market application and high commercial potential.
The National Innovation Awards ceremony, a leading recognition in Taiwan’s biomedical and healthcare innovation sector, was held on December 17 in Taipei. CYCU Biomedical Engineering team led by Associate Professor Cheng-An Lin, in collaboration with Chao-Chiang Technology, stood out after a rigorous six-month, three-stage review process to win the National Innovation Award – Academia Innovation (Medical Devices & Diagnostic Technology Category), recognizing its innovation value and application potential. The award was presented by Dr. Tai-Hung Yang, Director of Life Sciences Development at NSTC.
The award-winning technology originates from Professor Cheng-An Lin’s team and their development of a “visual nano optical microscopy system.” Inspired by discussions on exosome detection needs in an interdisciplinary project, the team—together with then-PhD student Tzu-Yin Hou—unexpectedly captured clear nano-scale images previously difficult to observe, marking a major breakthrough. This innovation has since earned multiple honors, including the Platinum Award at the 2024 Taiwan Innotech Expo, a Gold Medal at the 2025 Nuremberg International Invention Exhibition, and the 2025 FITI Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award.
The research team applied its patented Total Internal Reflection Scattering (TIRS) technology to significantly enhance imaging contrast and resolution, and designed the system as a modular plug-in that can be easily attached to existing microscopes, enabling instant “plug-and-play” nano-scale visualization—particularly suitable for real-time liquid biopsy applications. Compared with traditional electron microscopes, which are costly, bulky, and require complex sample preparation, this system offers high compatibility, simple specimen handling, and lower entry barriers, making nano-level imaging more accessible beyond only a few advanced laboratories.
In its final evaluation, the National Innovation Award jury noted that the system integrates a built-in light source, user-friendly interface, and a modular design compatible with most commercial microscopes, offering flexibility for academic research while showing strong potential for clinical application and global markets. More importantly, the technology has completed pilot production and passed multiple safety and compatibility tests, demonstrating readiness for rapid market adoption.
This award-winning nano-imaging technology, developed by CYCU’s Biomedical Engineering Department in collaboration with Chao-Chiang Technology through NSTC programs, has achieved significant commercialization progress. Professor Cheng-An Lin expressed gratitude to long-term supporters and partners. Moving forward, the TesOptics team will first serve academic and biotech startups needing affordable nano-imaging solutions, then expand to clinical institutions and international markets, aiming to bridge nanotechnology with clinical applications and strengthen the biomedical industry.
