What is Biomedical Engineering?
As defined by America’s National Institute of Health, it is:
The application of physics, chemistry, computer science and engineering principles to the fields of biology, medicine, and healthcare to investigate physiology from the molecular to the organ level. And based on this research, the development of new materials, bio implants, medical instruments, and informatics with the purpose of disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, and the promotion of health.
The potential value of biomedical engineering
It will produce pivotal technologies used in next-generation growth industries and future strategic industries.
In the Korean context, the Aging Industry Promotion Act, implemented in 2005, means that the field of state-of-the-art medical treatments is being promoted as one of the government’s key next-generation industries.
It is an integral, core technological field of major developed countries.
While it is a high value added developed country-type industry, it also lends itself to a small and medium sized business and light industrial model.
It will lead to an influx of highly-skilled professionals due to the increased number of graduate schools offering programs designed to meet the needs of the Korean healthcare sector.
In the United States, it is a field taught in Pre-med school, which attracts the most elite talent.