Premier Chang San-cheng today presided over the inauguration of the Taiwan Ocean Research Institute (TORI) headquarters in Kaohsiung City. Chang stated that the facility will turn a new leaf in the nation's marine research and development (R&D), a particularly important field since Taiwan is surrounded by the sea.
The TORI, which is under the National Applied Research Laboratories of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), conducts research covering engineering and biosciences.
The MOST stated that the inauguration of the headquarters and establishment of a marine scientific research area will effectively integrate the resources of the government, academia, R&D institutes and industry.
To upgrade the nation's marine research capabilities, the center will facilitate scientific surveys of the nation's maritime territory, encourage frontier marine science and technology (S&T) research, support marine S&T industry development, and cultivate marine S&T research and industry talents. It will also incorporate Kaohsiung City's marine ecology, culture and related industrial chains to bring about comprehensive regional development.
To further facilitate TORI research, Ocean Researcher 1, 2 and 3 will be gradually replaced while Ocean Researcher V will be rebuilt in Singapore, Chang remarked.