Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Yi-fu (林義夫) said yesterday that his ministry hopes to build Tai-wan into an Asian research and innovation hub for certain specific industries by 2008.
In a speech at a meeting sponsored by a Taipei chapter of Rotary International, Lin said his ministry is in charge of seven of the 10 key development projects outlined in February by the Cabinet in its "Challenge 2008, a six-year national development plan."
In addition to turning Taiwan into a research and innovation center, Lin said, the six other objectives are to promote creative culture, increase industrial added value, make Taiwan into a "digital country," build Taiwan into a business operational center, make Taiwan "green and friendly" and advocate a "new hometown" community spirit.
"In a bid to boost Taiwan's participation in the global village and help the country deploy global market strategies, we must step up research and innovation," he said, adding that the Cabinet will provide NT$50 billion (US$1.5 billion) in low-interest loans for the private sector to strengthen R&D until it accounts for 3 percent of GDP -- a similar level to developed countries -- by 2008.
Lin said Taiwan will see a strong demand for talent in IC design and digitally related industries and he vowed to ensure training for a large amount of new blood in all sectors.
Lin also said his ministry has plans to set up a software park in Taipei's Nankang district and a nanotechnolgy research and application center in Hsinchu.
To help foster technological development in small businesses, the ministry is also planning to open an "Asian innovation cen-ter," he added.
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