Feature
Discovering Potential in Biomedicine and Sustainability
Besides versatile AI applications, ITRI has been developing innovative solutions in biomedical technology and sustainability that extend substantial industry benefits. Examples are illustrated by ITRI’s winning technologies at the 2025 Edison Awards, including Dual-Phase Hydrogel, NaPoGlass, and Low-Carbon Laser H-Beam Welding.
The Dual-Phase Hydrogel, a gold award winner, represents a significant advancement in biomaterials. This innovative injectable solution gels at body temperature, eliminating the need for invasive surgery. It helps prevent post-surgical complications, such as tissue adhesions, and promotes cell growth and recovery when combined with growth factors or pain relievers. Its effectiveness is particularly notable in treating conditions like lumbar laminectomy, knee osteoarthritis, and bone fractures. Additionally, the hydrogel extends the therapeutic effects of wound-healing factors for up to 30 days, significantly outpacing traditional hyaluronic acid hydrogels, which do not remain effective in the area for as long due to their inability to gel.
The Dual-Phase Hydrogel is an injectable biomaterial that gels at body temperature.
Another gold winner, NaPoGlass, is a nanoporous composite made from waste LCD glass that can remove nearly 100% of metal ions from wastewater. Unlike the traditional chemical precipitation process, NaPoGlass filters wastewater without leaving metal sediment that cannot be recycled. The filtered water is clean enough that it requires no further treatment and can be reused or discharged without pollution. The adsorbed ions can then be desorbed and recovered in pure metallic form, ready for refining or reuse. NaPoGlass itself allows for repeated use from 10 to 20 times, and after multiple uses, it can be repurposed into products such as humidity-regulating tiles, deodorizing insoles, and antibacterial keyboards.
NaPoGlass is designed for efficient wastewater treatment via heavy metal ion adsorption.
ITRI and Taiwan Mask Corporation’s Low-Carbon Laser H-Beam Welding, a silver winner, revolutionizes labor-demanding and carbon-intensive steel H-beam production by achieving full penetration welds with high-power laser. Utilizing digital twins, the technology simulates optimal laser welding parameters based on material conditions and predicts the resulting weld profile and strength. Integrated with intelligent weld-path tracking, precision positioning, welding ambience control, and auto-loading and -unloading, it reduces labor needs, shortens lead times, and eliminates post-treatment. For each metric ton of H-beam produced, it reduces carbon emissions by 88% and increases the production capacity fivefold at lower than two-thirds of the cost.
Low-Carbon Laser H-Beam Welding provides an automatic laser welding process that cuts significant carbon emissions during production.