Taiwan, UK sign science, tech pact for three projects

Taiwan and the UK have signed an agreement to pursue projects in satellite communications, silicon photonics and semiconductor talent development, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) said yesterday.

The Taiwan-UK Science, Innovation and Technology Arrangement (SITA) was on Friday signed in London by Representative to the UK Vincent Yao (姚金祥) and British Representative to Taiwan Ruth Bradley-Jones, the NSTC said in a news release.

The agreement marks an important step toward institutionalizing Taiwan-UK science and technology cooperation, allowing both sides to use their complementary strengths through concrete projects and bolster cooperation in key technology sectors, NSTC Deputy Minister Chen Bing-yu (陳炳宇) said.

From left, National Science and Technology Council Deputy Minister Chen Bing-yu, Representative to the UK Vincent Yao, British Representative to Taiwan Ruth Bradley-Jones and British National Technology Adviser Dave Smith pose for a photograph in London on Friday.

Photo courtesy of the National Science and Technology Council

The three projects were agreed during a SITA roundtable co-chaired by Chen and British National Technology Adviser Dave Smith following the signing ceremony.

The first project will involve satellite communications, with the UK Space Agency and Taiwan Space Agency planning joint research and development in advanced satellite communications technologies. The project would serve as a flagship outcome of SITA, the NSTC said.

The second is the launch of a Taiwan-UK silicon photonics academic alliance backed by seed funding secured by the UK. With support from the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI), the alliance would promote academic exchanges, talent development and industry-academia cooperation in silicon photonics.

The third is a semiconductor skills initiative, building on a memorandum of understanding on semiconductor talent development signed by former British Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides welcomed the results of the first group of UK master’s students who came to Taiwan for internships, the NSTC said, adding that it will work with TSRI to support the initiative, including programs for British research talent to visit Taiwan.

SITA is a legally non-binding framework between the UK and Taiwan to support cooperation in science, innovation and technology, the British government said.