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VP Chen vows to support innovation, spur sustainable development in Taiwan
From Taiwan Today
2019-04-25
New Southbound Policy。Vice President Chen Chien-jen (front, sixth left) is joined by the winners of this year’s International Inventor Prize at the Presidential Office April 24 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of PO)
Vice President Chen Chien-jen (front, sixth left) is joined by the winners of this year’s International Inventor Prize at the Presidential Office April 24 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of PO)

Strengthening the local culture and climate of innovation remains a cornerstone of the government’s policy for advancing Taiwan’s sustainable development, according to Vice President Chen Chien-jen April 24.

Innovation drives technological progress, facilitates industrial upgrades and helps create more quality jobs, Chen said. No effort will be spared in supporting its development and maintaining Taiwan’s competitive edge in the global supply chain, he added.

Chen made the remarks during a ceremony for winners of the 2018 International Inventor Prize at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. Organized by locally headquartered Taiwan International Invention Award Winners Association, the IIP recognized 43 individuals from home and abroad in nine categories last year.

According to Chen, the success of the recipients is not a coincidence. It took them tremendous amounts of ingenuity, patience and perseverance to transform creative ideas into reality, he said.

The government appreciates the invaluable contributions of such individuals, Chen said, and is leaving no stone unturned in assisting Taiwan’s best and brightest turn patented concepts into commercially viable products.

This is being achieved through a raft of projects implemented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, including arranging consultation and matchmaking sessions with investors and professionals specializing in technology transfer, Chen added.
 
MOEA efforts have delivered tangible results in the form of more startups in sectors like artificial intelligence, biomedicine, Internet of Things and smart machinery, Chen said, adding that a significant number of overseas firms have expanded R&D bases in Taiwan.
 
The fruits of this labor are underscored by Taiwan’s strong showing in the latest Global Competitiveness Report. Published in October 2018 by Geneva-based World Economic Forum, the GCR described the country as a “super innovator” alongside Germany, Switzerland and the U.S. (SFC-E)

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