TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan won six gold medals at the Concours Lepine invention contest in Paris this week in categories ranging from sustainability to health.

Taiwan stood out among 250 entries at the awards ceremony on Friday, per CNA. At the concurrently held Foire de Paris goods expo, Taiwan fielded the largest foreign delegation, showcasing 61 patented inventions from 35 companies at its pavilion.

Chief judge Rene Lavergne said Taiwan’s inventions embody the fair’s spirit of innovation and service. “Taiwan’s inventions surprise us every year,” he said. “Honestly, we judges enjoy evaluating Taiwan’s entries because they remind us of what this award is all about.”

Several student inventors also joined the Taiwan delegation. Lavergne praised their enthusiasm, calling Taiwan’s younger generation a clear strength and the future of innovation.

Among the gold medalists was Luxwell CEO Tseng Ming-kuo (曾明國), who returned for his fifth appearance. His latest invention – a Chinese herbal extraction technique developed with doctors over 15 years – won high praise from judges.

Tseng credited Taiwan’s robust industrial base in semiconductors, electronics, and chemical engineering for his success. He also praised Europe’s focus on quality, calling the fair a valuable learning ground for Taiwanese inventors.

Booth traffic was so heavy that some exhibitors struggled to keep up. Many brought only one demo unit, prompting Tseng to propose a shipping hub in France to support sales and competition.

Delegation head Hsieh Chieh-chung (徐捷中) said this year’s themes were wellness and branding. With shrinking margins in contract manufacturing, he argued, Taiwan must move toward brand-building to stay competitive.

He revealed plans to launch a “Taiwan hub” website and logistics center in France, aiming to help Taiwanese innovators tap into Europe’s growing interest in health tech and direct purchasing.