1. Planning mid- and long-term targets for the nation's science and technology expenditures.

a. Science and technology spending targets for year-2000:

I. R&D spending constitutes 2.5% of GDP.

II. Government provides 45% of all R&D spending, equivalent to 1.13% of GDP, and the private sector provides 1.37% of GDP.

III. Spending on basic research shall be no less than 15%, and spending on technology development at least 50%.

IV. The R&D investment of manufacturing firms shall be at least 2% of sales.

b. Science and technology spending targets for year-2010:

I. R&D spending constitutes 3.0% of GDP.

II. Government provides 40% of all R&D spending, equivalent to 1.2% of GDP, and the private sector provides 60%, equivalent to 1.8% of GDP.

III. Spending on basic research is maintained at 15%, and spending on technology development at least 55%.

IV. The R&D investment of manufacturing firms is projected to be 3% to 4% of sales.

2. Bringing about the stable growth of government spending on science and technology.

a. The government's science and technology budget will continue to grow, with growth rate maintained at 10%-15% over the next three years.

Ongoing

b. The ratio of R&D investment to turnover at state-owned enterprises should be no less than the ratio for the nation's manufacturing industry, as determined by the "Survey of National Science and Technology Activity."

Ongoing

c. Proper portion of pollution fees, National Health Insurance fees, and the public construction budget will be used for R&D work in support of policy-decision or for technology improvement. Relevant laws and regulations will be amended as necessary.

3. Coordinating and integrating R&D resources.

a. The functions of the NSC Board will be strengthened: The formulation of sci-tech policies, principles for integrating and allocating sci-tech resources, strategies for developing key
technological areas, and reviews of major sci-tech projects shall be submitted to the Executive Yuan after deliberation and approval by the NSC Board. The NSC Board's resolutions shall serve as the basis for the annual science and technology budget.

b. Mid-term budgetary planning for scientific and technological projects will be carried out, and the planning and evaluation systems of various departments and agencies will be enhanced to be more complete.

c. Establish inter-agency academic cooperation promotion task force, and jointly fund mission-oriented cooperative research projects.

d. Form inter-agency coordination meeting to integrate programs of government agencies in subsidizing research projects in private sectors.

e. National-priority science and technology programs in key areas will be actively pursued. These projects will have clear objectives, strategies, and implementation plans, and will seek to achieve policy missions by bringing together up-, mid-, and downstream resources.

f. Projects developing technologies with both military and civilian applications will continue to be carried out. The R&D capabilities of the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology will used more effectively as this institution increases cooperation with industry, which will also promote more entrepreneurial management.

4. Plan targets for nation's science and technology manpower.

a. Manpower target for year-2000:

I. The total number of research personnel (with at least a degree from a four-year university) will increase to 52,500 persons.

II. The number of research workers per each 10,000 persons of the general population will increase to 25.

III. Holders of M.S. and Ph.D. degrees will constitute at least 50% of the total number of researchers, with M.S.-holders perform most industrial R&D work.

b. Manpower targets for year-2010:

I. The total number of research personnel will rise to 75,000 persons.

II. There will be 35 researchers per each 10,000 persons of the general population.

 

5. Training and recruiting high-tech manpower.

a. The "Program for Strengthening Utilization of High-Tech Personnel" will be reviewed and implemented. High-tech personnel will be recruited both domestically and overseas.
The post-doctoral research system will be utilized to augment high-tech personnel at public and private research institutes.

b. The number of armed forces reserve high-tech personnel will be increased and the scope of their utilization expanded. If demands warrant and military manpower allows, four-year voluntary enlistment to engage in high-tech R&D projects will be restored.

c. National-priority science and technology programs will be promoted and human resources in key technology areas will be enhanced.

d. Supply/demand planning concerning high-tech manpower will be strengthened. University and graduate school enrollment in various disciplines will be adjusted to meet the needs of industrial development.

e. Pre-employment and on-job training for graduates in certain disciplines will be strengthened to meet pressing demands for skilled high-tech manpower.

f. Financial support will be made available to young post-doctoral researchers who wish to go overseas to engage in research work, thereby broadening their horizons and adding to their international experience.

g. Study the facilitation of personnel exchange involving government, research institutions, universities, and industry.

h. Cooperative research and training projects involving industry
and research institutions or universities will be promoted.

i. Professional skill appraisals will be instituted at vocational schools.

1. Promoting frontier scientific research.

a. The target for basic research expenditures is set at 15% of all R&D spending.

b. Improve funding strategies.

I. Encourage multi-year research projects, increase recognition of outstanding research and promote frontier research, so as to inspire senior researchers to strive for excellence. Increase support for research by new and promising researchers, so as to assist the professional development of young scholars.

II. The manpower structure of research teams will be enhanced to meet the needs of outstanding researchers.

III. Advanced scientific research projects in key areas, promote collaborative advanced scientific projects and integrated research projects involving universities, national laboratories, and the Academia Sinica.

c. "Centers of scientific excellence" will be established and stable, long-term funding will be provided.

d. Participation in advanced international cooperative research will be promoted, and focused support will be given to major international projects in key areas. The R.O.C. will participate in the construction and research use of major international research facilities and equipment.

e. Interchange and cooperation will be conducted with mainland China in focal areas of basic science.

a. Improve science education in all grades.

I. Draft a six-year mid-term elementary school science education program.

II. In order to stimulate students' innovative potential, scientific and technical creativity training plans will be conducted.

b. Improve R&D as well as applications of computer and network technology in science education.

I. The impact of computer and network technology on education will be studied and response measures devised.

II. Applications of computers and networks in scientific and technological education will be promoted.

III. Internet instruction will be instituted and online science teaching materials developed.

IV. Review and improve distance education, draft promotion strategies and implementation plans involving distance education.

c. Promote popular understanding of and support for science and technology.

I. Promote the quantity and quality of mass media coverage on science and technology, in all aspects of knowledge, policy and achievements.

II. Combine government and private resources to sponsor variety of science- and technology-oriented exhibitions and competitions.

a. Leverage resources of universities and research institutions to assist R&D at private enterprises.

I. In accordance with the "The Fundamental Science and Technology Act," patents and other research results will be granted to universities and research institutions.

II. Review and improve channels for facilitating university faculty and personnel at research organizations to participate in industrial-academic cooperative R&D projects and technology transfer.

III. Means of encouraging R&D personnel to established spin-off ventures will be drafted.

IV. Prominent international research institutions and universities will be selected as partners in international cooperative industry/academia/research projects.

V. Universities and public/private organizations will be encouraged to establish open laboratories or business incubation centers.

b. Encourage private enterprises to invest in research and development.

I. Articles in "The Statute for Upgrading Industries" concerning tax relief on R&D investment and personnel training for private enterprises will be reviewed. Standards for relevant expenses will also be determined.

II. Schemes for promoting R&D at private enterprises with government subsidized matching funds will be more widely implemented. Improvements to existing government support programs for private R&D will be reviewed from a pragmatic standpoint, so as to streamline regulations concerning applications, expense auditing, and project management.

III. At least 10% of the MoEA's sci-tech project spending should go to private enterprises.

IV. Innovative research projects at small and medium enterprises will be encouraged.

c. In accordance with the resolutions of the Fifth National Science and Technology Conference, active efforts will be made to promote research in the areas of multimedia, information technology, biotechnology, aerospace technology, precision machinery, special materials, and electric vehicles and batteries. In addition, after reviewing "the top ten emerging industries" and "eight key technologies," focal points will be selected for further promotion.

d. Active efforts will be made to upgrade technology levels cooperatively with industry in the areas as telecommunications, transportation, information technology, and environmental protection using offset programs from major national procurement and infrastructure projects.

a. The deregulation of industrial banks will be accelerated. After gaining training and experience, industry specialists at industrial banks will lead industrial investment and financing.

b. Promotion of venture capital business will continue, and in the meantime better flexibility will be allowed, so as to enlarge capital sources for entrepreneurs.

c. To provide more support for industrial development, restrictions on investment from banks will be eased.

d. The Executive Yuan Development Fund should actively invest in selected high-tech industries to function as a leader for private investment.

e. Stock market listing qualifications will be reviewed and modified at appropriate times in light of the characteristics of high-tech industries.
。

2. Promote R&D and integrated research in environmental industries.

a. Develop clean production technology and green product, improve efficiency of resource utilization, and reduce industrial wastes.

b. Electric motorcycle pilot projects will be sponsored.

c. Promote inter-agency integrated research on environmental protection, in the areas of:

I. Pollution reduction and prevention technologies.
II. Drinking water quality management and treatment technologies.
III. Hazardous site cleanup technologies.
IV. Waste reduction, recycling, and reuse.
V. Marine environment monitoring and pollution warning research in selected focal area.
VI. Environmental risk assessment technologies.

3. Promote energy technology research and development.

a. Energy-conservation technologies will be developed and promoted to improve energy efficiency.

b. Energy recycle research will be strengthened and practical use popularized.

c. Among focal areas to receive attention are steam-electricity co-generation, electric cars and motorcycles, fuel cells, and coal gasification in power generation.

a. Coexistence of environmental protection and the development of state territory.

b. Scientific research and technology development addressing long-term ecological protection and diversity.

c. Marine resource survey will be conducted to compile marine resource databases. The nation's oceanographic research fleet will be consolidated.

d. Regional climate change research will be promoted, and a short-range weather forecasting research capability established.

e. Substitute water supply technologies will be developed. Research and development on water quality and quantity maintenance technology and water resource allocation strategies and technologies.

f. Remote sensing R&D and applications research will be promoted.

a. First-stage disaster mitigatin databases will be compiled.

b. A natural disaster potential distribution chart for Taiwan will be completed.

c. Hazard analysis and disaster simulations will be conducted for a demonstration area.

d. A disaster mitigation plan will be devised for the demonstration area, and a disaster relief framework established.

a. Promote medical and public health R&D with focus on the following fields: geriatrics, common diseases in Taiwan, neurology, medical applications of molecular biology, microbiology and immunology, environmental epidemiology, occupational diseases, mental illness, drug abuse, medical engineering, and medical and health care policies.

a. Upgrading the quality of pharmaceuticals and innovate new manufacturing processes, promote the medical applications of biotechnology, and establish a new drug testing framework
meeting international standards.

c. A national priority research project addressing the medical and public health applications of genetic technology will be conducted.

I. Large-scale automatic gene analysis technology will be established and a localized genome database compiled.
II. Genetic diagnostic and treatment technologies for cancer and other major illness will be developed.
III. Genetic vaccines and immune control drugs will be developed. Research on diagnostic and therapeutic genetic agents will be promoted.
IV. Certification and management techniques for medical biotechnology products will be established.

a. R&D will be strengthened throughout the agricultural, forestry, fisheries, animal husbandry, and food industries.

b. A national priority project will be conducted on agricultural biotechnology:

I. Focus on selected new products that have high unit-value, used in large quantities, internationally competitive, and uniquely suited to Taiwan. Priority will be given to research on flowers and ornamental plants, plant protection, aquaculture, animal vaccines, freshness preservation technology for agricultural products, environmental protection technologies, and medicinal plants.
II. A product certification framework and technical support system for product development will be established.

a. Plan the construction of a research reactor, TRR-2.

b. Technologies to raise the operational reliability of reactors will be developed.

c. More research will be performed on radiation protection, nuclear plant safety analysis technology, and the management, storage, processing, and disposal of radioactive waste.

d. Civilian applications of nuclear energy will be developed.

a. Promote interdisciplinary collaborations and research, establish basic information on research tools, such as: cognitive science, science history and scientific philosophy, scripture studies, and literature-history investigation networked database.

NSC,MoE,AS

b. "East Asia Regional Research" projects will be planned and carried out.

c. Strengthen studies on impact of internationalization toward local culture.

a. Carry out "Dialog Between Science and the Humanities" forum, deepen research on science- and culture-related topics, and set up ad WWW-sites.

b. Research on social issues in post-industrial society will be strengthened, including the topics of care for the elderly, preservation of culture heritage, and crime and social order.

c. Research on the legal, ethical, and socioeconomic implications of genetic technology and possible response measures will be promoted.

d. Research on technologies for educating and welfare promotion for the handicapped will be promoted.

e. Research on the influence of human and social factors on the development of science and technology will be promoted.

a. Research will be conducted on the impact of the Internet on society and the humanities, and on possible responsive measures.

b. Research will be conducted on the impact of the Internet on education, and on possible responsive measures.

a. Sponsor the completion of legislative procedures for the Basic Science and Technology Act, to be used as the basis for: ownership, management, and utilization of intellectual property rights and research findings, and the revenue/payments, safekeeping, and utilization of the National Science and Technology Development Fund.

b. To facilitate the hiring and exchange of technological personnel, statutes governing the employment of technological personnel will be drafted in coordination with the Examination Yuan.

c. The drafting of regulations governing industrial technology development will be accelerated.

a. Legislation providing for the reorganization of the NSC's national laboratories as independent non-profit organizations will be promoted.

b. Partially convert CSIST into non-profit research organization, support R&D of private sector with existing CSIST capability.

c. The reorganization of armament manufacturing and maintenance units into state-owned privately-operated organizations will be promoted.

d. The "Procedural Guidelines for the Total Outsourcing of Information Services by Agencies Under the Executive Yuan" will be drafted.

e. The feasibility of reorganizing technical and research units under government agencies as independent non-profit organizations or other flexible corporate entities will be reviewed.

a. Complete the fourth-stage expansion plan for the Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park, and establish the satellite industrial parks at Chunan and Tungluo.

b. Construction of the Tainan Science-Based Industrial Park.

c. New science-based industrial parks will be planned.

Dec. 1998

2. Actively develop several types of planned high-tech campuses.

a. Research parks will be developed at Chingshan and Lungyuan.

b. Software parks will be developed at Nankang and other locations.

c. An aerospace industry park will be developed at Taichung.

d. Industrial parks will be developed at Tainan, Yunlin, and other locations.

e. The private sector will be encouraged to develop various types of industrial parks.

1. Establish objectives, formulate program, and enlist support from the private sector.

a. Establish objectives of promotion.

I. The widespread use of the Internet is being promoted, and a goal of three million users has been set for 2000.

II. The Internet is being promoted in elementary and middle schools; all middle schools will have an Internet connection within three years and all elementary schools will have one within five years.

III. Taiwan will be developed as the Internet hub of the Asia-Pacific region. The number of routers directly connected with America, other continents, and Asia-Pacific nations will be increased.

IV. A global Chinese-language Internet information and education center will be established to promote the construction of fine Chinese-language network content. This center will become a major supplier of Chinese-language information and educational content.

V. Active steps will be taken to develop an network/multimedia industry. R&D on digital video, network communications, multimedia computers, and peripheral equipment and products will be strengthened.
The development of innovative software will be encouraged. New commercial opportunities will be developed by strengthening the development of Internet applications.

b. Formulate implementation program.

I. Implementation strategies will be devised based in accordance with the objectives of the National Information Infrastructure program (NII). The goal of completing basic tasks before the end of 2000 has been set, and the planning of implementation measures will be the responsibility of agencies under the Executive Yuan.

II. Implementation projects will be carried out after approval by the Executive Yuan. A review of projects and tasks shall be performed each year, and modifications made when necessary.

2. Mid-term NII projects will developed and carried out on the basis of the NII implementation program.

a. The three-year time frame for mid-term NII projects is from July 1, 1997 to June 30, 2000.

b. The mid-term NII projects are divided into seven categories: putting relevant laws and institutional frameworks on a sound basis; accelerating network construction; promoting Internet education; popularizing network applications; developing an Internet industry; strengthening R&D; and expanding international cooperation.

c. In accordance with the responsibility of agencies and timetable for the NII implementation projects, the Executive Yuan NII Steering Committee will formulate mid-term NII projects in coordination with relevant agencies, submit the tasks to the Executive Yuan for reference, and actively carry them out.

3. Realize electronic government based on "Electronic Government Mid-Term Implementation Plan."

a. In conjunction with the NII program's goal of three million Internet users by the year 2000, the goals consist of:

I. The basic networks for "electronic government" will be constructed, providing all members of society with quick and convenient information, communications, online applications, and other services.

II. Widespread use of the Internet will be promoted: Government personnel are encouraged to go online and use e-mail, etc., to handle their regular business.

III. Government data circulation mechanisms will be put on a sound basis, and government data will be made more accessible to the public. Value-added uses of government data will be promoted in order to stimulate the development of a database industry.

IV. Paperwork at government agencies will be made more efficient. The promotion of electronic document interchange will raise government's administrative efficiency.

V. The integration of government data, the expansion of government service locations, and the lengthening of service hours will provide citizens with "one-stop full service."

VI. A reliable secure data and communications environment will be established in order to safeguard citizens' rights and facilitate problem-free government computer operations.

b. The Executive Yuan approved "Electronic Government Mid-Term Implementation Plan" will be actively carried out. This plan's projected goals include:

I. Number of personnel online at government units: 40% (160,000 persons).

II. Number of Internet servers for each 1,000 persons at government units: 1.75.

III. Proportion of E-mail use at government units: 30% (120,000 persons).

IV. Proportion of electronic document interchange use at government units: 20%.

V. Number of computer files circulated at government units: 35,000.

VI. Reduction in volume of paper documentation at government units: 15%.

VII. Reduction in volume of document and certificate copies issued by government units: 30%.

RDEC,other relevant agencies