At the Cabinet's weekly meeting Thursday, Premier Su Tseng-chang received a National Science and Technology Council briefing on the planning of the nation's science parks. The premier said science and technology strengthen our nation, and pointed out that science parks nationwide are estimated to have set two record highs of 320,000 employees and over NT$4 trillion (US$131.9 billion) in total revenue in 2022, reflecting Taiwan's continuing ability to occupy a key position in global science and technology.
Since the start of his current term in office, the premier has approved seven construction or expansion projects for science parks—the Qiaotou Science Park, the phase three expansion of the Southern Taiwan Science Park in Tainan, the Baoshan Township and "X base" branches of the Hsinchu Science Park, the Pingtung Science Park, the Chiayi Science Park and the phase two expansion of the Central Taiwan Science Park. Together with a future science park planned for construction in Kaohsiung's Nanzih District, these parks cover about 900 hectares of land, linking together to form the island's western tech corridor, spurring development of further industrial parks and R&D centers in surrounding areas, and further solidifying Taiwan's critical role as a leader in global science and technology.
In recent years the government has devoted full efforts to developing forward-looking infrastructure, improving the investment environment, and promoting its "five plus two" innovative industries plan and six core strategic industries. Moreover, the premier said, the government has adapted to new circumstances and seized new opportunities to encourage Taiwanese companies to return to Taiwan and foreign companies to increase investment in Taiwan, while also continuing to cultivate stronger scientific research to consolidate the nation's ability to independently research and develop key technologies.