The MOE indicated the IENA 2013 delegates won 20 gold medals, 34 silver medals and 16 bronze medals, and were awarded the only special prize, the IENA Fairmanagement. The SIIF 2013 delegates won another 68 gold medals, 64 silver medals, 57 bronze medals, and four special prizes. Their performances proved that young students from Taiwan know how to put their creativity into practice. The MOE hopes that this recognition will encourage more students and teachers to emphasis more on the idea of “learning while doing and doing while learning.”

The MOE further explained that Taiwan’s inventions included metal tool machines, electronics, and daily use items. Thirty-two countries participated in IENA 2013. Over seven hundred inventions, including 108 from Taiwan, were displayed at the fair. It is worth mentioning that Taiwan won the special Prize of the IENA Fairmanagement, which had not been awarded for three years. Last time the participants from Taiwan that receive this award is 5years ago. Thirty-one countries with over 700 inventions participated in SIIF 2013. Taiwan, with 222 inventions this year, also set a 7-year record in winning gold medals and total medals. These achievements proved that Taiwan’s inventiveness is recognized worldwide.

The special Prize of IENA Fairmanagement is the IENA’s biggest prize. The research team led by Prof. Sheu Yih-Ran(許毅然) from the Electrical Engineering Department of STUST （南台科大）cooperated with the Material and Electro-Optics Research Center, CSIST（中科院）to create an intelligent portable solar tracker, which won this prize. Users can use the GPS in their smartphone to get local latitude and longitude. With the assistance of the three-axis accelerometer and electronic compass, users with this device can measure topographical errors and use it in tracking the sunlight and fully utilize it to generate electricity.

Liu Yi-lin(劉宜霖) and his team from CSUST（正修科大）invented a flood warning system. This device can detect the water level and send a warning signal in case of emergency. It will send a command to close roads automatically when the water level approaches the warning line. With this device, traffic police can fulfill their duty from their offices rather than on location under severe weather conditions. It can also combine wireless transmissions and SMS to send the warning messages automatically.

Liu Xiang-yu(劉翔宇) from Taichung Wagor Bilingual Academy(葳格高中附設雙語小學) invented a motion-sensing door equipped with a warning device. This invention installs a motion sensor and warning device on a door. As people approach the door, the door will make a warning sound, allowing blind people to find it more easily, detect the distance to the door, and prevent them from hurting themselves by accidentally hitting the door.

Taiwan is renowned for its inventiveness throughout the world. Entries at world invention fairs have won numerous awards every year, and the outstanding performances of delegates from Taiwan have attracted much attention from the participant countries. Because of the diverse learning supported by the MOE, more and more students actively learn how to invent. Participants in the invention fairs are younger and younger every year. These inventions are relevant to their daily lives. Students of school age have begun to cultivate their inventiveness and DIY attitude. What they learn is more than just book knowledge. They also learn how to improve their personal values and make our society more progressive and comfortable.

Before the end of the visit, the Chief Secretary thanked all the delegates, the Taiwan Invention Association, and the medalist for their efforts in inventing and innovating. The MOE is committed to assisting the winners in commercializing and developing their inventions. The MOE hopes to build an entrepreneurship training program which integrates with the local culture and industrial resources to boost the economic development of Taiwan. The MOE also hopes that these medalists will keep inventing and win more and more international honors in the future.