2016 ANNUAL REVIEW Ministry of Science and Technology

Ministry of Science and Technology green energy and actively develop a cyclic economy if it is to enable citizens to pursue S&T research, development, and innovation in a safe, sustainable living environment. B. Taiwanʼs S&T Development Vision and Strategies In accordance with the Fundamental Science and Technology Act , the government must hold a National Science and Technology Conference once every four years to discuss the country's future S&T development blueprint in light of national development directions, the needs of society, and a desire to maintain balanced regional development, and determine a National Science and Technology Development Plan, which serves as a basis for the drafting of S&T policies and the promotion of scientific and technological R&D. Accordingly, at the 10 th National Science and Technology Conference, Objective 1 Objective 3 Objective 4 Objective 2 which was held December 5-7, 2016, individuals from industry, government, academia, and the research community jointly discussed and hammered out the country's future S&T development directions. The 10 th National Science and Technology Conference had the focal topics of "intelligence, low- carbon, health, and sustainability," and addressed the three central themes of the infrastructure environment, intelligent living, and economic development. The results of the conference were subsequently used to formulate four major S&T promotion objectives, which consisted of "reliance on innovation to regain economic momentum," "strengthening intelligent living S&T and industry," "cultivating and attracting talent and providing diverse channels for advancement," and "nurturing innovative scientific research ecosystems," and relevant strategies and measures were also drafted. The following is an overview of the four objectives and relevant strategies: 9 Overview Reliance on innovation to regain economic momentum includes strategies of formulating digital economy development models for innovative industries; strengthening of scientific research result application mechanisms promoting development of innovative industries; putting regional innovative systems on a sound footing and maintaining the growth momentum of industry clusters; and creating an environment favorable to the emergence of innovative startups and relevant development mechanisms. Cultivating and attracting talent and providing diverse channels for advancement includes cultivation of interdisciplinary human resources with digital economy skills; strengthening of training mechanisms for practical industrial technology manpower; provision of diversified, attractive channels for the cultivation of high-end scientific research manpower; and the recruiting and retention of top-flight international human resources. Nurturing innovative scientific research ecosystems includes strengthening of S&T decision- making support systems; creation of a legal environment fostering the innovative development of science and technology; encouragement of original S&T research and development and reform of the academic R&D results evaluation system; and strengthening of collaborative ties among industry, academia, and research organizations. Strengthening intelligent living S&T and industry includes development of new agricultural technology able to enhance the safety of agricultural produce; promotion of precision medical S&T in order to better maintain citizens' health; improvement of disaster mitigation S&T able to reduce the impact of natural disasters; development of green technology in order to realize a sustainable, low- carbon society; use of intelligent sensing technology to maintain environmental quality; and use of information and communications security technology to ensure that citizens enjoy superior everyday convenience.