Through collaboration between the Cabinet-level National Science and Technology Council and Academia Sinica, Taiwan has been approved as an associate member of the European Molecular Biology Conference, marking a new milestone in the nation’s exchanges with European scientists.
The NSTC and Academia Sinica jointly signed an academic cooperative agreement with the EMBC and European Molecular Biology Organization in 2012. Taiwan was upgraded from the level of cooperation partner during EMBC member nations’ meeting in July in this year, the council said.
As an associate member, Taiwan is permitted to attend the intergovernmental conferences of the EMBC member nations as an observer and its scientists can apply for EMBO grants, the NSTC said.
On behalf of the NSTC and Academia Sinica, James C. Liao, the institute’s president, signed the associate member pact at the end of October during the EMBO’s 60th anniversary meeting, where he delivered a speech on increasing carbon fixation.
EMBO Director Fiona Watt remarked that more than a dozen outstanding scientists from Taiwan have been selected as EMBO Global Investigator Scholars and EMBO Young Investigator Scholars. She added that the arrangement would open more opportunities for joint efforts between Taiwan and European academics in life sciences.
EMBC, founded in 1969, serves its 31 member nations as a cooperative platform for molecular biology research. Established in 1964, EMBO’s main mission is to execute EMBC projects to enhance and stimulate the development of molecular biology both within and beyond Europe. Academia Sinica noted that Taiwan is the third nation to become an associate member, following Singapore and India. (POC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw