SPARK, a program originating from Stanford University (U.S.A.), is dedicated to providing a nurturing environment for the development of biomedical talent in new drug and medical device innovation. It targets educators and physicians who are either interested in or already working on drug or medical device development but lack commercialization expertise. The program offers essential training in areas such as translational research, regulatory affairs, intellectual property and negotiations, marketing, and business planning. Additionally, it supports team leaders in the R&D and commercialization of new drugs and medical devices.

SPARK offers a comprehensive series of courses and professional mentorship for training teams, supplemented with development funding. The program aims to help teams reach milestones such as entering clinical trials, technology transfer, or integration into larger projects. The goal is to cultivate talent with a global perspective in drug and medical device development, and to promote the commercialization of research and development outcomes.

Currently, six universities in Taiwan are key participants in this program: National Taiwan University, Taipei Medical University, Fu Jen Catholic University (in collaboration with National Tsing Hua University and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology), Chang Gung University, National Cheng Kung University, and Kaohsiung Medical University. To date, the program has assisted over 300 biomedical project teams and more than 1,000 individuals from academia, research, and medical fields in translating innovative technologies into commercial products.