Taiwan inventors shine at Seoul invention fair

2014-12-02

Taiwan won 61 gold, 71 silver and 55 bronze medals, as well as six special prizes, at the 2014 Seoul International Invention Fair Nov. 28-Dec. 1, placing first overall among 34 participating countries and territories.

Led by the Taipei City-based Taiwan Invention Association, Taiwan inventors entered a total of 214 projects at the annual event.

“The SIIF covers a wide spectrum of technological innovations, including daily necessities, electrical appliances, electronics and machinery,” TIA Chairman Chen Tsung-tai said. “With 193 medals and 268 participants, Taiwan not only is the biggest winner, but also fields the largest contingent at this year’s event.”

One of the winning submissions was a water-resistant power socket developed by Taipei Chengshih University of Science and Technology. By applying liquid-repellent nanocoating to the socket, the team developed a power source safe to use in wet environments. Patented in Taiwan, the U.S. and mainland China, this product has already entered into mass production.

Also water-proof, the three-speed bicycle derailleur entered by a team from National Yunlin University of Science and Technology won a gold medal. Nestled inside the rear wheel axle, the derailleur resists corrosion, thereby better preventing the bicycle chain from falling off.

A team from Taichung city-based Asia University, meanwhile, picked up a special prize for its entry—a flexible light bar featuring light-emitting diode, or LED, technology. Fashioned like a tape measure, the bendable light source can be attached to any surface or even wrapped around a user’s arm.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=224698&CtNode=413)