Business representatives in southern Taiwan yesterday said that full support from the government and research organizations would be crucial to future industrial transformation.
Showing their eagerness to hear the latest information about nanotechnology research, more than 500 representatives of diverse industries attended a panel discussion on nanotechnology research held by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Kaohsiung yesterday.
Representatives said that they sensed signs of an economic recovery, but what they needed urgently was full support from both the government and research organizations to promote nanotechnology, which is innovative and will soon be closely linked to daily life.
"Japan in particular has focused on making nanotechnology applicable to a diverse number of industries" said Chen Wen-yuan (陳文源), chairman of the Kaohsiung Chamber of Industry (高雄市工業會).
"We hope the Taiwanese government and the ITRI will also copy the Japanese way of transferring nanotechnology to industry," Chen said.
Since January 2000 when then-US President Bill Clinton announced the US National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), an increasing awareness of nanotechnology as one of the most important technologies for the 21st century has lead to substantial increases in related nanotech funding in several Asian countries.
Many of them -- such as Japan, China and South Korea -- have launched various national government programs. Last year, Japan vowed to make related technologies practical within 10 years.
Meanwhile, Taiwan's national nanotechnology program is expected to launch officially next year and its estimated expense from now until 2007 will be about NT$19.2 billion.
The event held yesterday in Kaohsiung was the starting point of a series of panel discussions conducted by the ITRI on the latest information about nanotechnology research.
By the end of March, the ITRI will share the newest information on nanotechnology research with industry leaders in Tainan, Taichung, Hsinchu and Taipei.
Nanotechnology involves the creation and utilization of materials, devices and systems through the control and manipulation of matter at the nanometer scale, that is, at the level of atoms, molecules and supramolecular structures.
A nanometer -- one billionth of a meter -- is about 10,000 times narrower than a human hair and about four times wider than an atom.
Yang Jih-chang (楊日昌), ITRI Executive vice president, said that Taiwan's competitiveness in the future would rely on current efforts in promoting nanotechnology.
Yang, also the director of newly formed ITRI Nanotechnology Research Center, said that the center would spend at least NT$700 million this year to promote research pertaining to information storage, integrated circuits, displays, opto-communications, micro fuel-cells and other technologies.
Yang said that diverse industries in Taiwan would eventually be influenced by the future application of nanotechnology, because the revolutionary technology will make it possible to produce smarter computers, anti-dust paints, anti-ultraviolet fibers and other things.
"About NT$90 billion in output in traditional industries, such as textiles ... will be seen within three years," Yang claimed.
Kao Kuo-lun (高國倫), managing director of the Kaohsiung-based Eternal Chemical Company (長興化工), said yesterday that the company had applied the results of nanomaterials research to its products, such as paint.
"The application of nanotechnology can not only upgrade existing products, but also create additional value," Kao said.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS