Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun attended the second workshop of the 2024 Taiwan Presidential Hackathon Oct. 28 in Taipei City, expressing their hope that innovative ideas proposed by participants will help the government draft effective policies to create a healthy and sustainable Taiwan for residents of all ages.
According to the Presidential Office, Hsiao said during the event that the spirit of the hackathon, which aims to promote cross-border and interdisciplinary public-private collaboration while combining open data and technology to propose creative solutions to societal issues, aligns with the Healthy Taiwan initiative proposed by President Lai Ching-te.
The vice president added that the government’s commitment to improving public well-being was evident at the first meeting of the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee convened in August by Lai, as well as a project to improve medical facilities, cultivate personnel and advance the country’s smart medical care.
Cheng congratulated the 10 teams selected to display their solutions at the workshop, lauding them for their diverse areas of focus spanning artificial intelligence, data analysis, remote health care, and epidemic and natural disaster risk management.
To continue developing the country’s digital technology, the Executive Yuan is working on the Smart Taiwan 2.0 plan, Cheng said, adding that the updated version will enhance the country’s strategic position in the democratic supply chain through R&D and encourage more digital applications and services that address social concerns while protecting human rights.
The vice premier went on to praise Taiwan’s technical prowess, adding that she hopes the country will share its innovative solutions with the world and contribute to global digital democracy.
Launched in 2018 under the auspices of the PO, the hackathon has solicited over 1,100 creative contributions to date. This year’s version is organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare with support from the Ministry of Digital Affairs, and a total of five teams will be chosen to receive awards from the president. (YCH-E)
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