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 (
A preclearance service to facilitate entry for people traveling to select airports in Japan would be available from Thursday next week to Feb. 25 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said on Tuesday. The service was first made available to Taiwanese travelers throughout the winter vacation of 2024 and during the Lunar New Year holiday. In addition to flights to the Japanese cities of Hakodate, Asahikawa, Akita, Sendai, Niigata, Okayama, Takamatsu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima, the service would be available to travelers to Kobe and Oita. The service can be accessed by passengers of 15 flight routes operated by
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
ENHANCING EFFICIENCY: The apron can accommodate 16 airplanes overnight at Taoyuan airport while work on the third runway continues, the transport minister said A new temporary overnight parking apron at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is to start operating on Friday next week to boost operational efficiency while the third runway is being constructed, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The apron — one of the crucial projects in the construction of the third runway — can accommodate 16 aircraft overnight at the nation’s largest international airport, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) told reporters while inspecting the new facility yesterday morning. Aside from providing the airport operator with greater flexibility in aircraft parking during the third runway construction,
American climber Alex Honnold is to attempt a free climb of Taipei 101 today at 9am, with traffic closures around the skyscraper. To accommodate the climb attempt and filming, the Taipei Department of Transportation said traffic controls would be enforced around the Taipei 101 area. If weather conditions delay the climb, the restrictions would be pushed back to tomorrow. Traffic controls would be in place today from 7am to 11am around the Taipei 101 area, the department said. Songzhi Road would be fully closed in both directions between Songlian Road and Xinyi Road Sec 5, it said, adding that bidirectional traffic controls would
RSS