On June 28, presumptive Democratic US presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton released her Initiative on Technology and Innovation, which some media outlets have called “a love letter to Silicon Valley.”
The main points of Clinton’s technology agenda are as follows:
First, fostering and applying human resources in science and technology. This would entail cultivating talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and in computer science.
In response to the trend in digital economy for people to work from home and have flexible work hours, Clinton’s agenda seeks to optimize pay and conditions for those who work in such a way.
The second aspect is the establishment of laws and systems. This includes the defense of net neutrality, innovations in the patent system and upholding and safeguarding persona data security.
Regarding net neutrality, Clinton has pledged to maintain the US Federal Communications Commission’s policy of ensuring that all Americans have equal access to Internet resources.
With regard to innovations in the patent system, Clinton believes that patents should encourage innovation, but that patent trolls cannot be allowed to abuse the judicial system.
As to striking a balance between the use of big data and the right to privacy, Clinton promises to bolster laws that ensure data security and safeguard personal data.
Finally, Clinton proposes a US$275 billion budget for improving digital infrastructure and promoting faster 5G and Wi-Fi services, allowing the public to connect with high-speed networks free of charge, so that they can make full use of all kinds of connected applications.
Clinton’s science and technology policies emphasize human resources and the legal framework. Her only point of emphasis regarding hardware construction is to ensure that everybody has access to faster infrastructure equipment.
In comparison, Taiwan’s “Asian Silicon Valley” plan follows the old concept of science parks by calling for the creation of so-called “smart eco-parks.”
This proposal is based on the concept of geographical location, which is the exact opposite of one of the Internet’s most important precepts — that it surpasses geographical limitations.
Taiwan’s Asian Silicon Valley plan also says very little about human resources or laws and regulations, which are of such great importance for scientific and technological industries. This attitude fails to recognize that the quality of laws and regulations is a key influence over the development of innovative businesses.
Transportation network company Uber is an example. Uber’s “sharing economy” business model has been under discussion for a long time in Taiwan, but there are still no laws in place to regulate it.
Similarly, although electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors has established a presence in Taiwan, there are still no laws in place to define the responsibilities involved with self-driving cars.
Human resources and a legal framework lie at the heart of Clinton’s technology policy proposals.
If President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) government looks at the Asian Silicon Valley plan from the point of view of Clinton’s Initiative on Technology and Innovation, it might wish to redefine it in some ways.
In so doing, it cannot remain confined to the mind-set of promoting conventional hardware and science parks. Instead, it should focus on fostering technological talent and drawing up relevant laws and regulations.
Chiang Ya-chi is director of National Taipei University of Technology’s Patent and Technology Transfer Center. Nathan Chiu is CEO of cacaFly International Media.
Translated by Julian Clegg
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