Plenary speaker

Ageing population and decreasing birth rates are common phenomena taking place around the world. These two factors have increased the rise of chronic diseases and have led to uneven distribution of medical resources as well as the emergence of basic health care demands in emerging markets. Looking forth to the future, it is projected that telecare will become a major means of coping with such issues. According to forecasts by various research institutes, the global telecare market is expected to see an annual 20% growth rate over the coming years. In Gartner´s Hype Cycle for Telemedicine, 2010 Report, mobile health monitoring and home health monitoring are listed as highly anticipated health care applications for the future and which will require advanced integration of information and communication technologies.The medical electronics industry has been booming in recent years. With the maturation of wireless LAN (Local Area Network), Bluetooth low energy, and ZigBee technologies, it is projected that medical electronic devices will see further development in wireless connectivity, thereby providing dedicated, stable, and low-cost telecare services for the people. With its strong infrastructure and technological capability, the Taiwanese ICT industry is expected to provide ideal support for the development of telecare. Due to the vigorous involvement of the government and the industry, it is forecasted that the Taiwanese telecare industry will reach approximately US$18 billion in 2015. This speech will analyze the global development trends of telecare and address the applications, opportunities, and future outlook for the biomedical electronics and related industries in Taiwan.