At the Cabinet's weekly meeting Thursday, Premier Cho Jung-tai received a National Science and Technology Council briefing on the 12th National Science and Technology Conference. The premier expressed his gratitude to relevant ministries and agencies for collaborating with the scientific community and gathering input from scholars and experts, which contributed to the success of the conference. The results of the conference will shape the direction of the National Science and Technology Development Plan for 2025 to 2028, which serves as a key reference for guiding the government's future science and technology policies.
The premier pointed out that for technological development to drive forward national development, the government has allocated a science and technology budget of NT$196.5 billion (US$6 billion) for the 2025 fiscal year. This funding will support scientific advancements tailored to Taiwan's unique strengths, foster the continued growth of the Five Trusted Industry Sectors, and facilitate the transition to an era of widespread artificial intelligence applications, thereby helping both traditional industries and micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) achieve digital and net-zero transformations. Additionally, the government is promoting a program to develop industries and living spaces across Taiwan's six regions, along with over 140 key infrastructure projects nationwide, to realize the vision of a healthy, balanced, united Taiwan that is technologically, socially, environmentally and economically resilient.