On Monday, May 22, 2023, the inaugural U.S.-Taiwan Science and Technology Cooperation Dialogue (STC-D) was held in Taipei. National Science and Technology Council Minister Tsung-Tsong Wu and U.S. Department of State Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Jason Donovan led representatives from across various government agencies to strengthen Taiwan-U.S. cooperation and understanding in S&T.

This STC-D is the first time Taiwan and the U.S. have jointly held a high-level strategic dialogue specifically designed to explore S&T issues since both sides signed the Taiwan-U.S. Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement in December 2020. In November 2021, during the second U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue, Taiwan and the U.S. confirmed and announced that both sides would later hold today’s STC-D. Moreover, today’s STC-D marks the first time that the U.S. Department of State has led a group of researchers and officials to Taiwan. Furthermore, this STC-D will serve as a meaningful next step in strengthening bilateral research partnerships as well as a significant milestone in bolstering Taiwan-U.S. cooperation overall.

In addition to the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. delegation included officials from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI), and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST). The Taiwanese delegation included the National Science and Technology Council, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Academia Sinica. Prior to the meeting, both sides made a joint decision to focus on five major topics that included semiconductor research and applications, medical supply chain resilience, cancer research, environmental modeling and research, and research integrity in terms of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).

Minister Wu and AIT Acting Director Jeremy Cornforth opened the meeting with official remarks. Afterwards, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States Bi-khim Hsiao and U.S. Department of State Acting Assistant Secretary Jennifer Littlejohn delivered remarks via video. Subsequently, NSTC Office of Science and Technology Policy Executive Secretary Dr. Horn-Jiunn Sheen and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Donavan gave speeches on strategic focal points for science, technology, and innovation.

In addition to attending the STC-D, the U.S. delegation will also travel to Hsinchu on May 23 and visit several S&T research institutes including the Industrial Technology Research Institute, the National Center for High-Performance Computing, and the Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park.

Many scientists and experts from U.S. government agencies, including the U.S. Department of State, the NSF, NIST, NIH/NCI, and NOAA, participated in the inaugural STC-D. In addition to official speeches, participants also engaged in meaningful discussion on semiconductor research and applications, biomedicine and biomanufacturing, cancer research, environmental modeling and research, and values required for integrity and safety in research such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Media Contact:

Kai-Shih Wang

Section Chief

Department of International Cooperation and Science Education

National Science and Technology Council

Tel: +886-2-27377810

kswang @nstc.gov.tw

Minister Tsung-Tsong Wu poses for a group photo with U.S. Department of State Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Mr. Jason Donovan and other distinguished guests.

Opening Group Photo of U.S.-Taiwan Science and Technology Cooperation Dialogue