President Tsai Ing-wen said Oct. 27 that state-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute has been one of the driving forces behind Taiwan’s technological advancement for four decades, with its R&D capabilities widely recognized by the global community.
Through developing technology and fostering talent, ITRI has helped Taiwan stand out on the world stage, Tsai said. Its track record has made it a must-visit destination for foreign dignitaries, she added.
Tsai made the remarks during the award ceremony for seven new ITRI laureates held at the institute’s headquarters in northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu County. She praised the honorees as leaders in their respective disciplines who have helped the country become a global center of innovation.
Among the laureates are Mark Liu, chairman of Hsinchu City-based Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., and C.C. Wei, its chief executive officer. The former is responsible for cutting-edge technology development at the world’s largest contract chipmaker, while the latter is credited for leading the firm’s record high revenues in 2019.
Other new laureates include Wong Chi-huey, former president of Taiwan’s foremost research institution Academia Sinica; H.T. Kung, the William H. Gates professor of computer science and electrical engineering at Harvard University; and Lee Yuan-teh, a professor emeritus at National Taiwan University’s College of Medicine.
Established in 1973, ITRI seeks to enhance the country’s industrial competitiveness, with recent research focusing on such fields as quality health, smart cities and sustainable development. It has helped incubate over 270 high-tech companies, including TSMC. (SFC-E)
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