The acceleration of integrated science and technology (S&T) development, expansion of application innovation, and incubation of new businesses will be given priority in the government's 2016 S&T development policy and budget, Premier Jiang Yi-huah stated today.
The government's S&T measures are aimed at delivering a three-win situation by setting up smart living lifestyles for the public, ushering in the development of emerging industries and effecting innovative government administration, Jiang said.
The premier made these remarks when chairing the seventh meeting of the Executive Yuan Board of Science and Technology to hear reports on various agencies' major administrative measures on S&T and plans for S&T programs, estimates of S&T budget for 2015 after review, and information about the program for expanding S&T applications.
In its report on the government's S&T development plans for 2016, the Executive Yuan Office of Science and Technology (OST) pointed out that despite the overall financial retrenchment of the government, the quality of administration cannot be compromised. In order to highlight S&T policy, the government will instead incorporate various ministries' strengths to make full use of S&T research and development (R&D) to promote the public welfare and support the development of key industries.
Thus, a new program for augmenting S&T applications has been added to the existing seven. Proposed programs that can truly actualize smart living will be selected for implementation, and successful cases can then be duplicated for expanded innovative S&T applications.
After hearing the Ministry of Science and Technology's (MOST) report on various agencies' major S&T administrative measures and their plans for S&T programs, the premier stated that in order to better allow policies to guide the allocation of resources, he has instructed the OST and MOST to continue strengthening the linkage of overall S&T administrative planning and budgetary allocations with key policies in order to enhance the efficacy of government S&T spending.
Regarding the MOST's report on the review results for the government's 2015 S&T development plans and the OST's report on the principles for allocating S&T budget, the premier stated that the nation's economic growth and competitiveness hinge on S&T innovation and R&D, so although the central government faces overall fiscal difficulty in 2015, the Executive Yuan will fully support the budgetary requirement for S&T development.
Jiang also asked the various ministries to treasure their hard-won fiscal resources, as they do not come by easily, and make every penny count to enhance the efficacy of budgetary expenditure. He also enjoined the various ministries to thoroughly implement each S&T policy measure in order to meet the administration's major goals of advancing the public welfare and supporting the development of key industries.