Science and technology diplomacy

Taiwan and the UK on Oct. 2 signed the Science, Innovation and Technology Arrangement (SITA) in London. The first phase of cooperation includes joint research and development in satellite communications, an academic alliance in silicon photonics and a semiconductor talent development program. In the past, Taiwan’s international scientific research cooperation has largely taken the form of individual projects, exchange programs and bilateral research grants. SITA’s significance lies in its potential to institutionalize such cooperation.

The UK has considerable expertise in optoelectronics, space, chip design, artificial intelligence (AI) and foundational research, while Taiwan is strong in semiconductor manufacturing, supply chains and engineering.

To measure progress, the National Science and Technology Council should design a three-to-five-year technology road map for SITA, establishing research objectives, joint laboratories and research projects, industry-academia partnerships, and talent mobility targets for silicon photonics, low Earth orbit satellite communications and semiconductor talent development.

Talent development should move beyond short visits to Taiwan toward long-term, reciprocal programs. Under the current semiconductor talent program, British master’s students can intern in Taiwan. Simultaneously, programs could also be established to enable Taiwanese doctoral students, researchers and early-career engineers to work at British research institutions and companies.

For semiconductors and silicon photonics, the government could promote joint Taiwan-UK doctoral programs, co-supervision arrangements and research internships involving industry partners. It could also provide research funding for participants returning to Taiwan or help connect them with industry, ensuring that expertise and technical experience gained overseas are not lost once their programs end.

Research security and intellectual property governance must also develop alongside cooperation on technology. SITA covers satellite communications, semiconductors and silicon photonics, some aspects of which might overlap with Taiwan’s national core key or dual-use technologies. International research cooperation in these areas, along with cybersecurity and AI, might require more sophisticated contractual and risk management frameworks.

The government should establish standard terms and conditions for partnerships to define ownership of research results, patent applications and trade secrets, along with rules for data access, researcher permissions and technology transfer procedures.

Risk assessments should also be completed before starting projects involving sensitive technologies, with the findings communicated to researchers so they understand which information can be shared and which technologies require additional scrutiny.

To demonstrate the effectiveness of science and technology diplomacy, the government could publish annual data on joint research funding, the number of research teams involved, talent exchange participants, patent filings and academic publications, industry-academia collaboration and progress on industrial testing or the commercialization of new technologies.

In satellite communications, progress could be measured by whether jointly developed technologies are incorporated into satellites or ground-based equipment. The silicon photonics alliance could be assessed based on its joint chip designs, manufacturing platforms and industry partnerships. The semiconductor talent program could evaluate whether participants go on to work in relevant industries. The indicators would help establish bilateral agreements as long-term institutional arrangements, while also providing a model for cooperation with other science and technology leaders.

Trade between Taiwan and the UK reached ￡8.9 billion (US$11.96 billion) last year, data released by the British government showed. The two sides are also extending their cooperation into digital trade, advanced manufacturing and supply chain resilience. For Taiwan, the value of the next stage of science and technology diplomacy lies in translating international relationships into domestic research capabilities, talent development and industrial technological advancement.

SITA provides a new platform for cooperation. Its achievements over the coming years will determine just how significant an impact it ultimately has on Taiwan’s technology landscape.