EndoSemio is a Taiwan-based medtech startup building a next-generation platform across single-use and modular micro-endoscopes. EndoSemio's AI-powered ear, nose, and throat (ENT) endoscope fuses narrow-band and white light imaging to highlight vascular changes associated with early nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). By integrating advanced imaging technologies with AI-driven analysis in a compact, accessible, and clinically validated endoscopy platform, EndoSemio addresses the unmet needs in NPC detection and expands its applications into other minimally invasive procedures across ENT, pediatrics, urology, and veterinary care. EndoSemio's NBI Fusion AI-Powered ENT Endoscope: Next-Gen Nasopharyngeal Cancer Early Detection technology won the Smart Medtech category in the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge (ICTGC) Batch 3.

AI-Powered Imaging Offers Better Accuracy

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a high-incidence, low-awareness cancer in East and Southeast Asia, often diagnosed late due to its vague symptoms and limited access to accurate early screening. Late-stage detection will generally lead to a low survival rate, and despite being the 6th most common cancer in the region, current diagnostic methods, such as blood tests or nasopharyngoscopy, have a relatively low accuracy rate at about 20 - 50%.EndoSemio’s AI-powered ENT endoscope aims to address this gap by providing walk-in NPC screening at ENT clinics without requiring expert-level training, while offering a more accurate, affordable, and scalable approach to early cancer detection.

Introducing IC Taiwan Grand Challenge

To strengthen Taiwan’s position as a global semiconductor powerhouse, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) organizes the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge. Started in 2024, the competition originally focused purely on innovative IC designs and advanced application solutions. Today, ICTGC also honors technologies that can support and contribute to the semiconductor industry and Taiwan’s industry in general. ICTGC Batch 3 emphasizes key fields such as AI Core Technologies & Chips, Smart Mobility, Smart Manufacturing, Smart Medtech, and Sustainability.

Building an Advanced Medical Imaging Solution Across Disciplines

EndoSemio was founded as a startup spun off from the College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, in 2023. With a team that combines deep clinical insight with strong R&D, manufacturing, and regulatory expertise, EndoSemio develops solutions tailored to real clinical needs, serving frontline medical professionals. EndoSemio has won several awards and is building global partnerships with NASDAQ-listed medtech firms and European distributors. EndoSemio actively engages with both local and international partners, including clinical institutions, clinical testing & validating facilities, and medical device companies.

EndoSemio's solution is designed, developed, and manufactured entirely in Taiwan, leveraging Taiwan’s strengths in precision engineering, medical innovation, and integrated supply chains. They are closely collaborating with major Taiwanese medical centers for clinical testing, workflow validation, and early adoption.

Their core technologies leverage Narrow-Band Imaging (NBI) to enhance vascular visualization for early cancer detection, a proprietary AI model for lesion detection, miniaturized endoscopic imaging modules, and an integrated imaging platform to enable rapid, real-time identification of high-risk lesions. In addition, EndoSemio's hardware is designed in-house, featuring custom CMOS sensor integration, adaptable lens systems, and proprietary bendable endoscope modules with friction-reducing coatings. It is built to enable real-time inference without reliance on cloud infrastructure.

EndoSemio aims to provide a faster, more accurate, and accessible alternative to existing imaging machines, which are often too expensive while relying heavily on a physician’s experience for NPC detection. The combination of NBI and AI-powered lesion recognition significantly improves diagnostic accuracy and speed by enabling walk-in screening without requiring expert-level training. The modular nature of their hardware also makes it applicable in other applications such as pediatric, urology, and veterinary.

As the winner of the Smart Medtech category in the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge Batch 3, EndoSemio will showcase their NBI Fusion AI-Powered ENT Endoscope: Next-Gen Nasopharyngeal Cancer Early Detection technology in the Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) 2025, which will be held from October 16 - 18, 2025, in the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) Hall 1. Visitors are encouraged to join and learn how it can contribute to making advanced medical imaging more accessible and practical for frontline healthcare professionals.

Register for the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge Batch 4

With the continued success of the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge (ICTGC), the organizers will promote it as a long-term event to support semiconductor innovations from Taiwan and abroad. Registration for the next batch of ICTGC will begin in November 2025, and teams with a focus on semiconductor technologies are encouraged to join and compete.

For more details, please visit:
>>>https://ictaiwanchallenge.org/