August 31, 2024
On August 30, NSTC Minister Cheng-Wen Wu met with Czech Republic Science, Research and Innovation Minister Marek Zeníšek in Prague to exchange views on future Taiwan-Czech scientific research cooperation. During this visit, which marked his first overseas trip since taking office this May, Minister Wu participated in a semiconductor investment delegation led by Executive Yuan Secretary-General Ming-Hsin Kung. Minister Zeníšek, who also took office this May, has been particularly supportive of working with Taiwan while promoting the Czech Republic’s scientific development and international research cooperation.
Minister Zeníšek stated that the Czech Republic possesses strong R&D capabilities and has an advantage in terms of its unique geographic location. In addition to playing a key role in European semiconductors, Minister Zeníšek expressed the hope that the Czech Republic could strengthen cooperation with Taiwan in sectors such as biotechnology, space, and AI. Minister Wu also stated that Taiwan is more than willing to share its results in scientific development and industrial S&T appli-cations with like-minded countries. To further promote academic research and talent training, Minister Wu said that future semiconductor cooperation with the Czech Republic will focus on the Advanced Chip Design Research Center (ACDRC). Minister Wu also noted that Taiwan is currently investing in sovereign AI and spe-cific AI development topics that include space, biotechnology, and quantum. In closing, Minister Wu stated that Taiwan looks forward to initiating scientific coop-eration with the Czech Republic in a variety of fields. Both sides also discussed cur-rent talent shortages that both countries are facing, and expressed the hope that through policy promotion, more young people will enter fields related to scientific research.
On the evening of August 29, Minister Wu also attended a welcome banquet hosted by the Czech side for the Taiwanese delegation. During the banquet, Minis-ter Wu met with Czech Republic Senate President Miloš Vystrčil, Czech Republic Senate First Vice-President Jiří Drahoš, and Science, Research and Innovation Deputy Minister Jana Havlikova.
The NSTC and the Czech Republic have a long history of working together in scien-tific research. The NSTC currently has active MoUs with the Czech Academy of Sci-ences, the Czech Science Foundation, and the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic. These agreements have allowed both sides to jointly promote personnel exchange programs, bilateral seminars, collaborative research projects, and other initiatives that strengthen ties between Taiwan and the Czech Republic. Taiwan and the Czech Republic have also already established strong bilateral cooperative part-nerships throughout industry, academia, and research. In the future, the NSTC will tackle various global S&T issues and challenges by proactively integrating relevant resources while continuing to deepen and strengthen future S&T cooperation be-tween Taiwan and the Czech Republic.
Media Contact:
Mr. Kai-Shyr Wang
Section Chief
Department of International Cooperation and Science Education
National Science and Technology Council
Tel: (02) 2737-7810
NSTC Minister Cheng-Wen Wu (right) and Czech Republic Minister of Science, Research and Innovation Marek Zeníšek (left).
(from the right side) NSTC Minister Cheng-Wen Wu, Czech Republic Minister of Science, Research and Innovation Marek Zeníšek, Executive Yuan Secretary-General Ming-Hsin Kung, and Czech Republic Deputy Minister of Science, Research and Innovation Jana Havlikova.