National ICT Policies
Taiwan's top ranking in IT industry is combined with all the hardwork from industries and the policies from the Government.
There are many aspects to look in in the area, however, I would like to focus on a 4 years National Science and Technology Development Plan from year 2001 to 2004.
Introduction
The intention behind the drafting of a national science and technology development plan is to guide the country's entrance into the knowledge economy age. It includes goals of strengthening the knowledge innovation system, boosting industry's competitive advantage, imporving citizens' quality of life, promoting systainable development, improving nationwide technological standards, adn reinforcing the country's autonomous defense capability. It is to bring the country into the knowledge economy age through the application of technology to improve the Taiwan's international competitiveness and transform Taiwan into a Green Silicon Island.
As the term "Knowledge Economy" burst worldwide, Taiwan as an island-country, awares the challenges it faces: The globalization of trade has made it ahrder for nations to use tangible or intangible trafe barries to protect domestic industry, knowledge, and technological innovation; The challenge on how to devise sustainable development strategies that will maintain the ecological balance while forstering development of economy; The advanced improvement in information society and in the life sciences are have tremendous impacts on the activites of business and governement, and on the wy poeple live, study, and work. All the challenges we are facing, and understanding the importance of technology, the policy is based on scientific information.
World Trends Taiwan has Noted
1. Individual government departments are increasingly promoting technology R&D, expanding participation of industry/government/universities/research institutions in the formulation of technology development policies, emphasizing forward-looking technology development planning, and implementing targeted development to integrate technological resources.
2. More emphasis is being placed on conducting basic science research and using the manpower of universities and research insitutions to make scientific and technological breakthroughs and train the next generation of technical personnnel.
3. Increasing importance is being placed on the protection and utilization of IPR as means of safeguarding R&D results and the competitivies of high-tech industries.
4. The rise of international cooperation and division of labor is ushering in a knowledge economy age marked by simultaneous cooperation and competition.
5. Many of newly-industrialized nations of Asia, including Korea, China, Singapore and Malaysia, ahve vigorously implemented government-backed high-tech development.
Changes in Taiwan's Technology Development Environment
Some obvious changes have occurred over the past4 years are as following:
1. "The Fundamental Science and Technology Act" laid out principles and directions for the country's technological developments, while providing for sustained and balanced support for R&D.
2. High-tech firms in the country's Science-Based Industrial Parks have come to account for one-tenth of the country's overall industrial outout over the past ten years.
3. The success of Hsinchu Scien-Based Industrial Park spurr the government to develop new sites in Chunan and Tungluo, while completing development of the Tainan Science-Based Industrial Park as a center for high-tech industry in southern Taiwan.
4.Statistics from the US patent office(USPTO) indicate that Taiwan's rank terms of number of approved US patents has climbed from 7th in 1996 to 4th in 1999.
5. Taiwan possesses the world's third largest computer industry and fourth largest semiconductor industry, while this national development plan is drafted.
6. Technological interchange and cross-straits with world advanced IT organizations.
Vision for the Nation's Technolgical Development
Within the next ten years Taiwan's level of technological development will reach the standard of a developed nation.
1. Funding manpower committed to technology will reach developed-nation levels:
a. Overall R&D funding will reach 3% of GDP by 2010
b. Research personnel (university or above) will constitute 45 out of each 10,000 persons in the gerneral population.
2. Academic research: establish a world-class academic environment over next 10 years, nurture accomplished research personnel capable of making majoy contributions to their fields, and achieve international academic recognition.
3. Industrial technology: continued development of existing high-tech industries, as well as the growth of new industries based on advanced technology, will drive the country's overall industrial tranformation and upgrading.
4. With the next decade, the output of Taiwan's knowledge-intensive industries should account for 60% or more of GDP.
5. Technological development will effect a majoy improvement in health, housing, transportaionm and environmental quality. The implementation will minimize loss of life and property damaged by natural disasters such as typhoon, and earthquakes.
6. Widespred improvement in citizen's technical knowledge and using new high-tech products.
6. Science-based industrial parks will be established in approoriate areas, stimulating the emergence of high-tech industry clusters and "cities of science and the humanities" with R&D, production, ecological and lifestyle attractions.
Strategies and Key Measures
Strategy 1: Strengthening the training, recruiting, and utilization of technological manpower:
Key Measures: mid-term goals to 2004- the number of research personnel with at least a university degree will increase to 80,000 persons, and at least of 60% of these personnel will hold an M.S. or Ph.D. degree. Long-term goals to 2010 - The number of research personnel with at least a university degree will increase to 100,000 persons, and at least 65% of these personnel will hold M.S. or Ph. D. degree.
Strategy 2: making the fullest and most effective use of technological funding:
Key Measures: mid-term goals to 2004- overall R&D funding will constitute 2.3 of GDP; basic research will account for 12% of all R&D funding, while manufacturing R&D will account for 1.5% of turnover. Long-term goals to 2010: overall R&D funding will constitute 3.0% of GDP; basic research will account for 15% of all R&D funding, while manufacturing R&D will account for 2.5% of turnover.
A target of 12% annual growth in the goverment's technology budget has been set. More encouragement will given to private R&D, bringing the ratio between private and public funding to 7:3.
Strategy 3: Strengthening academic research, pursuing academic excellence
Strategy 4: Strengthening technological innovation, promoting industrial upgrading
Strategy 5: Improving public welfare and environmental quality
Stragety 6: Promoting the mutual development of technology and a human society
Stragety 7: Implementing nationwide technology education and improving citizens' technical knowledge
Strategy 8: Establishing an autonomous defense technology industry and R&D system