Taiwan's scientific ties with Russia will be strengthened over the next three years because NT$108.5 million (US$3.4 million) will be available for at least 60 collaborative research projects ranging from basic to applied sciences, Deputy Minister of the National Science Council Shieh Ching-jyh (
Late last month, Shieh visited Russia and revised a bilateral agreement signed with the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) last November. The pact ensures that a mutual fund of NT$76.6 million (US$2.4 million) for joint research projects will be increased by an additional NT$31.9 million (US$1 million).
"Since we've received more than 100 proposals, which show the potentially great results of scientific research, we decided to offer more support to scientists from both sides," Shieh said at a press conference yesterday.
Shieh said that Taiwan will be responsible for offering about US$2.4 million for the bilateral scientific collaboration. The fund will be used from this year until 2007 to support three international conferences and 60 research projects with topics ranging from aerospace, nanotechnology, material sciences and financial management.
Shieh said that during his trip to Russia, a representative of Moscow State University, the largest and the most influential one in Russia, also expressed interest in working with Taiwan's space scientists on satellite projects.
"We might send skilled engineers and scientists to the university, which has a reputation in the design of artificial satellites. They would do scientific research on projects involving joint satellites," Shieh said.
Meanwhile, the council is also strengthening its connection with Latvia and Lithuania by financially supporting six research projects pertaining to nanoscience, organic chemistry, biomedicine, genetics and ecological statistics.
"We hope to extend our contacts to as many countries as we can. In Eastern Europe, we can benefit from working with excellent scientists who have strong backgrounds in mathematics, high energy physics, and others," Lin Kwang-lung (
Lin said Taiwan was interested in promoting research on high energy physics, saying that an agreement on Neutron Beam Applications Research was recently signed by the council and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization. Lin said that Taiwan might contribute NT$191 million to Australia for future use of its newly completed research facility, which cost NT$7.9 billion.
"By using the unique facilities, Taiwan's scientists might be able to learn about the structure of biomaterials. We predict that results could be gained soon to improve Taiwan's biotechnology and medicine," Lin said.
On August 1, the council will launch a new science and technology division in New Delhi to further strengthen scientific ties. James Chang (
Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) was sentenced to six months in prison, commutable to a fine, by the New Taipei District Court today for contravening the Personal Data Protection Act (個人資料保護法) in a case linked to an alleged draft-dodging scheme. Wang allegedly paid NT$3.6 million (US$114,380) to an illegal group to help him evade mandatory military service through falsified medical documents, prosecutors said. He transferred the funds to Chen Chih-ming (陳志明), the alleged mastermind of a draft-evasion ring, although he lost contact with him as he was already in detention on fraud charges, they said. Chen is accused of helping a
SECURITY: Starlink owner Elon Musk has taken pro-Beijing positions, and allowing pro-China companies to control Taiwan’s critical infrastructure is risky, a legislator said Starlink was reluctant to offer services in Taiwan because of the nation’s extremely high penetration rates in 4G and 5G services, the Ministry of Digital Affairs said yesterday. The ministry made the comments at a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, which reviewed amendments to Article 36 of the Telecommunications Management Act (電信管理法). Article 36 bans foreigners from holding more than 49 percent of shares in public telecommunications networks, while shares foreigners directly and indirectly hold are also capped at 60 percent of the total, unless specified otherwise by law. The amendments, sponsored by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ko
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
The eastern extension of the Taipei MRT Red Line could begin operations as early as late June, the Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems said yesterday. Taipei Rapid Transit Corp said it is considering offering one month of free rides on the new section to mark its opening. Construction progress on the 1.4km extension, which is to run from the current terminal Xiangshan Station to a new eastern terminal, Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, was 90.6 percent complete by the end of last month, the department said in a report to the Taipei City Council's Transportation Committee. While construction began in October 2016 with an
RSS