SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

To realize the government’s Smart Taiwan 2030 vision, which aims to “Make Taiwan Innovative, Inclusive and Sustainable,” the National Science and Technology Council is strengthening cooperation with other ministries as it works to better understand the needs of the country’s diverse populace, integrate innovative technologies into everyday life and open up opportunities for new eco-friendly industries. With science and technology serving as a key driver of economic growth and national progress, the NSTC strives to advance related development by nurturing startups, promoting the nation’s three science parks and supporting academic research. It also implements a range of measures and programs to foster creativity and ensure research focuses on the needs of industry.

The success of Taiwan’s high-tech enterprises is largely attributable to the government’s generous funding of applied scientific development. With government support, the Industrial Technology Research Institute, National Applied Research Laboratories and Institute for Information Industry all played important roles in jump-starting the nation’s rise as a technological powerhouse by conducting research, aiding the private sector with R&D and exploring new technologies.

ITRI’s expertise in technological innovation is best illustrated by its awards. Over the past 16 years, it has garnered 58 esteemed R&D 100 Awards, as well as 16 Edison Awards since 2017 and eight Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovator recognitions since 2015. The institute has also played a pivotal role in nurturing companies that have gone on to achieve significant success in the global market. Among these are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and United Microelectronics Corporation, renowned as leading custom integrated circuit makers worldwide.

Established in 2003, National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs) combined 7 national laboratories into an independent nonprofit institute under the National Science and Technology Council. Its four missions are to establish R&D platforms, support academic research, promote frontier science and technology, and foster high-tech manpower. NARLabs strives for "global excellence, local impact.” It endeavors to transliterate academic research results into real business and emerging industries in the hope of making contributions to social welfare.

As NARLabs embraces its 21st anniversary, it welcomes new technology and works in sync with national policies to lead innovation in its role as national laboratory. NARLabs will continue to pursue multidisciplinary integration and newly applied technologies based on existing scientific research domains. These responses to environmental impact and social change include AI, big data, unmanned vehicles, the internet of things and biotechnology. NARLabs is deeply committed to the establishment of R&D platforms and enabling new tech, thus contributing to national development.

The goal of the Institute for Information Industry (III) is to boost Taiwan’s global competitiveness by providing a platform for digital transformation. The institute conducts R&D on innovative ICT products and applications. It also plays a key role in advancing ICT development in the public and private sectors by serving as a think tank on related policymaking and promoting talent cultivation. Over the past four decades, more than 500,000 professionals have received training through III.

Taiwan’s tech ecosystem provides an ideal environment for global investors looking to establish a presence in Asia. Local venture capitalists, engineering service providers and technology developers have extensive experience collaborating on cutting-edge R&D. This is on display at Taiwan Tech Arena, a hub for innovation and startups that is attracting young entrepreneurs from around the world. Bringing together accelerators, venture capital firms and enterprises, TTA has bases in Taipei and Tainan Cities, from which it works to build a vibrant international startup ecosystem. TTA is the voice of Taiwan tech startups, as well as a launching pad for global tech enterprises.