Spatial Development of the Chinese Herbal Medicine Industry in Taiwan: a Perspective of the Product Chain

This research is conducted in view of the product chain. It attempts to understand the meaning and the course of development in the Chinese herbal medicine industry in Taiwan. In addition, this research analyzes the social culture that the industry currently faces in order to explain the relation network formed by the manufacturers, industry society, scholars in the academia, and the government administrative department.
There are currently no cooperation or outsource amongst the manufacturers in the Chinese herbal industry in Taiwan. With the multi-development of the product chain, the actual manufacturing activities include different space scale. The social network, which used to place much emphasis on personal connection and reputation, when combined with the use of new technologies, has started to influence the government policies and the direction of research in Chinese herbal medicine. Through the analysis of the product chain, this research has found that the relationships between Chinese herbal medicine industry in Taiwan and the government administrations are one of the major reasons for the advantage in the industry competitions.