Go Healthy with Taiwan 2026 names top 20 semi-finalists
The Top 20 semi-finalists from Go Healthy with Taiwan 2026 have been announced, with the shortlist reflecting a broader shift toward healthcare that’s more preventive, accessible, and woven into everyday life.
Organised by Taiwan’s International Trade Administration under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and implemented by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, the campaign drew 832 proposals from 62 countries this year, a 30 percent jump from the 638 submissions received in the previous edition.
The newly announced Top 20 represent 16 countries, with solutions split across Smart Healthcare, Sport Tech, and Cycling, addressing needs ranging from earlier disease detection and wider healthcare access to active ageing, rehabilitation, and safer mobility. Southeast Asia has a presence among this year’s semi-finalists too, with the UST Technovation Society from the Philippines proposing a smart e-bike and trainer system with biometric monitoring to support exercise and rehabilitation for people managing cardiac or chronic conditions.
Of the 20 semi-finalists, 11 fall under Smart Healthcare and 9 under Sport Tech and Cycling, with four broad themes standing out across the shortlist. On early detection and screening, an Indian team has built a system that uses a smartphone to read a urine test strip and screen for kidney disease in just 30 seconds, a Spanish team applies AI to heart disease risk screening, and a Brazilian team combines AI with Taiwanese digital health platforms for quantitative brain CT and MRI analysis.
For remote and community healthcare, a Brazilian team has integrated Taiwanese contactless vital-sign AI into WhatsApp-based care services, while a Canadian solution uses 3D cameras and AI to assess Parkinson’s symptoms, extending diagnostic reach to patients in rural communities.
Healthy ageing and independent living round out another major theme, with an Australian team developing wandering detection technology for people with dementia, a Japanese team incorporating Taiwanese equipment to help older adults maintain independence, and an Israeli team offering personalised exercise prescriptions for seniors. Sports, rehabilitation, and mobility innovation also feature prominently, with teams from the United States and France working on real-time movement analysis and injury prevention, and a New Zealand proposal combining smart mobility, green commuting, and employee wellness for corporate settings.
Notably, many of the shortlisted concepts have already moved past the idea stage, with 70 percent of the semi-finalists being companies with products already on the market, alongside participating SMEs, NGOs, and academic institutions, pointing to strong potential for real-world adoption.
The Top 20 will now receive one-on-one mentorship from industry experts to further refine their proposals, with six finalists expected to be announced in early November and invited to Taiwan to pitch in person. Three eventual winners will each receive US$30,000 to help bring their proposals to life. By connecting global health needs with Taiwan’s technology capabilities, Go Healthy with Taiwan offers markets including Malaysia and Southeast Asia a look at emerging applications across smart healthcare, healthy ageing, rehabilitation, and sports technology, while opening the door to future cross-border collaboration.
