Boosting Aerosol Biomedical Technology and Improving Air Quality: NSYSU Establishes Innovation Incubation Hub

Aerosols are closely intertwined with the ecological environment, climate, and human health. Aerosol medicine and biomedical sciences have emerged as rapidly growing fields of research. Today (8th), the Aerosol Science Research Center (ASRC) of National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) inaugurated the "AeroUNICORN—Aerosol Biomedical & Air Quality Improvement Start-up Incubator." The hub will focus on advancing aerosol biomedical technology, preventive medicine for PM2.5, air quality monitoring and improvement, and the development of educational tools in aerosol science. It aims to mentor high-potential teams and innovative technologies, accelerate the translation of research results, build an international industry–academia collaboration platform, and contribute to resolving health and environmental problems caused by air pollution.

Professor Chia C. Wang, Director of the ASRC, explained that aerosols are fine particles suspended in the air. Aerosols generated by human activity often contain harmful substances that threaten health; however, aerosols can also serve as drug delivery pathways, driving the development of aerosol medicine and biomedical science. The hub is named after the concept of "unicorn companies"—private startups less than ten years old, valued at over USD 1 billion, and recognized for their innovative technologies and business models that solve market pain points and transform everyday life. Since aerosols share the flowing characteristics of wind, the hub is named "AeroUNICORN," symbolizing the cultivation of internationally competitive startups that can create new industrial value and even develop into aerosol unicorn companies.

"In both Eastern and Western cultures, the unicorn symbolizes inner strength, uniqueness, creativity, courage to pursue dreams, and belief in miracles," Wang emphasized. "These are precisely the essential qualities of innovators and entrepreneurs."

Wang further noted that this is the world's only incubation hub dedicated specifically to aerosol- and air-quality-related startups. Its focus areas include: aerosol biomedicine and health, sustainable talent cultivation in aerosol science, development of aerosol and air quality monitoring instruments, control and reduction of pollution sources along with purification materials, and customized indoor and outdoor air quality improvement solutions. The hub seeks to guide and transform new aerosol science technologies and knowledge into market-ready products. It will also strengthen academic research, connect with domestic and international industries, support student and faculty entrepreneurship, and foster international collaboration, becoming a vital platform for global industry–academia exchange.

NSYSU stated that the hub will focus on developing technologies and products aimed at reducing or preventing the harmful effects of air pollution, improving air quality, and advancing applications of aerosol medicine. These efforts hold the potential to reduce millions of premature deaths worldwide caused by PM2.5 exposure, while fostering the growth of a new industrial ecosystem in aerosol biomedical science.

The inauguration ceremony of the "AeroUNICORN—Aerosol Biomedical & Air Quality Improvement Start-up Incubator" was held at NSYSU. Distinguished guests included Academia Sinica Academician Chung-Hsuan Chen; Academician Pao-Kuan Wang and his spouse; a delegation from the Greater Kaohsiung Branch of the Global Federation of Chinese Business Women led by President Hsiu-Chen Hsu; Director Tsung-Hsien Lin of NSYSU's Office of Research and Development; Deputy Director Ching-Te Kuo of NSYSU's Office of Global Industry-Academia Collaboration and Operations; and Director San-Yi Huang of the Advanced Industry Liaison Center. All gathered to celebrate and express their support for the establishment of this unique hub for aerosol-related industries.