Officials from the Academia Sinica (
Last week, President Chen Shui-bian (
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
"If we don't do this today, we will regret it tomorrow," he was quoted as saying.
In response to the pledge, Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh (
"I hope [the pledge] comes true," Lee said. Academia Sinica already plans to spend up to US$30 million per year on a functional genomics center -- built to find ways to use information from the human genome project and apply it to medicine and life. Taiwan's most famous research institute will need the funds for this project and others.
Lee's comment came at the sidelines of a conference set up to promote academic exchange between Austria's Vienna Biocenter and the Academia Sinica. Repre-senting the Biocenter at the meeting, Karl Kuchler, an associate professor of molecular genetics, invited Lee to Vienna for a visit at his earliest convenience. No final decision was made on the trip.
At the meeting, Lee said Taiwan's own biotech dreams will go unfulfilled unless an organization steps up to the plate to lead development of the industry here. "Academia Sinica is ready to be the leader," he pledged.
For the past few months, re-searchers at Academia Sinica have worked with politicians at the premier's office to convince them of the need to invest in biotechnology. With a new NT$52 billion government biotech fund under their belts, the group said it's time to educate politicians at all levels of the importance of working together.
Kuchler said Austria has had similar difficulties in developing a biotechnology industry and discovered, as the Academia Sinica researchers did, that "our politicians are also teachable to some extent."
The Vienna Biocenter began as an attempt to develop a "biotech cluster" in Vienna, to draw together researchers and resources to an area -- usually in the vicinity of research institutes and universities -- where people can collaborate with one another. Vital to such a "cluster" is government funding, as private investors will not risk their money in the earliest stages of biotechnology product development.
"We must convince the politicians to plant the seed," said Kuchler, "then let private funds take over."
In 1998, there were only two biotechnology firms operating in Austria. The development of the Vienna Biocenter has played a pivotal role in increasing the number to 25 companies.
In Taiwan, many research institutes operate in isolation from each other, with neither coordination nor cooperation. Kuchler said in biotech, "too spread out is the death of biotech, you need clusters."
This is why Academia Sinica officials are trying to move into the lead position in Taiwan. The mapping of the human genetic code and its release free of charge into the hands of scientists worldwide has created the unique chance for researchers to begin on an equal footing in this industry.
Lee and Kuchler, who both spent time as researchers at the University of California-Berkeley, cited a number of other important features of a nation or area trying to get ahead in biotech. Austria is attempting to draw researchers from Eastern Europe who might not have access to the resources they need, and started an international doctorate program to attract talented young scientists to join.
"We need a variety of people from all over the world with a variety of ideas" to develop a creative, innovative biotech industry, said Kuchler.
Generous visa stays and work opportunities, scientific freedom, and the English language were all cited as important factors in attracting and retaining talent from around the world.
The Austrian Business Agency plans to hold a meeting on Wed-nesday to announce any scientific cooperation or manufacturing outsourcing plans that come out of this week's meetings.
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