A delegation from Taiwan attends the APEC Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation Feb. 18-19 in the U.S. city of Palm Springs, California. (Courtesy of MOEA)
 

A delegation from Taiwan took part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation Feb. 18-19 in the U.S. city of Palm Springs, California.

Comprising officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and National Science and Technology Council, the group was headed by Chiou Chyou-huey, director-general of the MOEA Department of Industrial Technology, who also hosted a meeting on enhancing regional connectivity at the event.

According to the MOEA, a total of 18 proposed initiatives supporting the PPSTI’s theme of “Interconnected, Innovative, Inclusive” were accepted during the event. Taiwan’s tally of five approved projects, the most of any attendee, reflects the country’s innovation prowess, the ministry said.

One of these projects, the Intelligent Cloud for Machinery platform developed by Taiwan’s state-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute, involves participation from Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand. It is expected to help expand local smart machinery sector’s presence in APEC member economies, particularly those in Southeast Asia.

Equally impressive is an integrated digital dental system developed by state-backed Metal Industries Research and Development Center in partnership with Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand. The system, which received US$110,000 in funding from APEC, will help reduce the recovery time from dental implant surgery by 30 percent, the MOEA said.

In addition to being an active contributor to the PPSTI, Taiwan is also responsible for operating the APEC Research Center for Advanced Biohydrogen Technology based in the central city of Taichung and the APEC Research Center for Typhoon and Society in Taipei City, the ministry added. (SFC-E)