The government's commitment to collaborative research projects in information and communication technologies (ICT) makes Taiwan an ideal partner for the EU, European representatives said yesterday in Taipei.
They told a press conference that a 2005 Euro-Taiwan ICT Cooperation Event would be held from April 27 to April 30 in Taipei and Hsinchu.
The event is a result of Taiwan's first official scientific collaboration agreement signed by the National Science Council in 2003 with the Directorate-General Information Society of the European Commission.
The commission encourages Taiwanese researchers to participate in collaborative projects involving EU's Sixth Framework Program, which sets out the priorities, including the Information Society Technologies (IST) priority, for the period from 2002 to 2006.
Since late last year, the EU has worked closely with the council in a bid to strengthen the participation of Taiwanese universities, institutes and organizations in its future research projects through a well-designed mechanism known as the GAPFILL project.
The project aims to develop scientific and technological cooperation between Europe and Asia in the ICT field. It is currently financed by the European Commission's IST Program.
Roger Torrenti, GAPFILL project advisor and chief executive officer of Sigma Consultants, said at the press conference yesterday that well-functioning national institutions promoting scientific research in four Asian countries, including Taiwan, make the EU believe that strengthening relations with scientists in these countries might result in productive outcomes from collaborative research projects.
"The GAPFILL project is not designed for Taiwanese organizations to propose financial support only. We do need specific skills Taiwanese research organizations have in ICT fields," Torrenti said.
Generally, the EU aims to promote ICT in diverse fields, such as health, optoelectronics, info-telecommunications, micro and nano-based subsystems, advanced grid technologies and environment risk management, he said.
"Many EU members have worked on tsunami-related issues. If Taiwan has special skills pertaining to natural disaster prevention, that would be perfect," Torrenti said.
The EU is Taiwan's fourth-largest trading partner, accounting for 12 percent of Taiwan's external trade.
Brian McDonald, head of the European Economic and Trade Office, said that collaborative scientific projects should be further strengthened as relations between the two sides have deepened because of the growing amount of investment.
Deputy Minister of the National Science Council Shieh Ching-jyh (
"Being selected by the EU as one of its major collaborative targets this year demonstrates that Taiwan's high-tech achievement in the past has drawn the world's attention," Shieh said.
"The GAPFILL projects will also improve Taiwan's relationships in the international community," he said.
Since last December, 110 research proposals involving ICT in the fields of health, biotechnology and cyber technologies have been filed with the council for GAPFILL consideration.
Research centers and private companies in the EU have proposed about 50 possible projects linked to Taiwan.
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