A Message from the President

As the most prominent academic institution in Taiwan, Academia Sinica carries the responsibility of leading the fields of science and humanities and nourishing advanced academic research talent. In the process of accumulating knowledge, academic breakthroughs are made through willingness to embrace the challenges of the unknown, persistence in the pursuit of academic excellence, determination in upholding the truth, as well as a belief in advancing culture. Therefore, the quest for knowledge should not rest on small achievements and lose sight of the ultimate goal of academic perfection, nor should it venture beyond the impossible. It is only with practicality and persistence that the quest can be brought into a new era.

Thanks to the efforts of each of the past presidents as well as all of the members of Academia Sinica, many groundbreaking studies have been completed and the number of research papers published has multiplied. In addition, accomplishments have been made in talent cultivation, academic exchange, and popular science education. In the future, Academia Sinica will make advances in four directions, including recruitment of top researchers, improvement of the research environment, integration of areas of study, and the sharing of intellectual wealth with society. These are the preliminary objectives as we elevate the quality of research in order to position Academia Sinica among the international intellectual elites.

In terms of talent cultivation and development, Academia Sinica, on the one hand, has attracted many exceptional scholars from abroad in recent years, and, on the other hand, has been actively training local talent. The plan for the future is to provide adequate housing, adjust the pay structure and develop sound regulations and standards to ease the transition to a new environment for the overseas scholars. Academia Sinica will also continue working together with domestic universities to train graduate students as well as post-doctoral scholars and expand the scope and improve the quality of our international graduate programs.

Academia Sinica has established firm academic cooperation relationships with institutes from more than thirty countries, including, for example, ƒcole des Hautes ƒtudes en Sciences Sociales of France, the Academy of Finland, and the British Academy. The institute has also started the Taiwan Chapter of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World to aid developing countries in scientific progress, extending the border of international academic cooperation to cover regions such as East Asia, South Asia, and Eastern Europe. Academia Sinica also serves as a liaison between members of various international scientific unions and Chinese Taipei of the national scientific bodies within the International Council for Science. The institute represents Taiwan in the scientific activities held by the International Council for Science to promote international scientific transfer and cooperation.

The current academic trend is the integration of research areas as well as increased interaction between researchers and research groups. Important areas of study with great prospects and high degrees of competitiveness are to be identified so collaboration can be established. In the future, Academia Sinica, in addition to its solid fundamental research, will seek breakthroughs in methodology and theory in the field of social sciences. More impressive academic accomplishments are to be expected from the endeavor. A more globally significant theory may bloom while being firmly rooted in traditional areas of study.

To give back to society with intellectual wealth, Academia Sinica has established a technology transfer office and an incubation center where research results may be industrialized through technology transfer. In this regard, Academia Sinica will assist the government in drafting more comprehensive technology policies and related regulations so that researchers may serve as scientific advisors for start-up companies to help build strong knowledge-based industries such as the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and information technology industries in Taiwan so as to raise Taiwan's competitiveness.

The purpose of academic research is to improve human life. Academia Sinica will continue its proud academic tradition of pursuing solid research while exploring new knowledge and will remain focused on the needs of modern society in the hope of enriching human civilization.