Taiwan-France Scientific Research Focuses on Strategic Fields, Wu Cheng-Wen: Taiwan's Semiconductor at the Core

Central News Agency

(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-hsuan, Grenoble, 20th) The 2nd Taiwan-France Scientific Research Conference was held in France. Wu Cheng-Wen, Chairman of the National Science and Technology Council, said today that geopolitical factors have led countries to prioritize the autonomy of key industries, and Taiwan, with its semiconductor capabilities, can become a reliable supply chain partner.

The 2-day 2nd Taiwan-France Scientific Research Conference, co-hosted by the Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), gathered nearly 200 scientists, industry representatives, and institutional leaders. In addition to consolidating existing cooperation, it will also formulate joint research and innovation priorities for 2026 to 2027.

Wu Cheng-Wen said in an interview with a CNA reporter that after events such as COVID-19 (2019 Coronavirus Disease) and the Russia-Ukraine war, countries realized the importance of critical industry autonomy. Many European countries are actively seeking to collaborate with Taiwan in technology because Taiwan holds global advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology, and semiconductors are an essential industry for key applications such as military-industrial, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, and space technology.

He said that the French side providing the opportunity to explore Grenoble's innovative R&D ecosystem also aims to demonstrate France's substantial investment in semiconductors, hoping to leverage Taiwan's ability to transform R&D achievements into industrial technology to help France revitalize its semiconductor industry.

He also mentioned that if semiconductor cooperation is successful, AI applications highly dependent on advanced chips, such as unmanned vehicles, robots, and quantum computing, can further move towards autonomy. Although Taiwan cannot rely solely on itself, it can use its semiconductor strength to form alliances with free democratic countries for cooperation and mutual benefit. He gave an example that France has advanced space technology, while Taiwan possesses semiconductor and electronic system manufacturing capabilities. In areas such as low-Earth orbit communication satellite bodies, payloads, ground stations, and personal equipment, Taiwan can become a reliable supply chain partner, complementing France. This is also one of the potential cooperation items being closely discussed between Taiwan and France.

The choice of Grenoble in southeastern France for this conference was no coincidence. This region is a major hub for French technological innovation, and UGA has been closely cooperating with several Taiwanese universities through scientific research for many years.

The conference focus covers strategic areas such as AI, cybersecurity, space technology, quantum technology, semiconductors, health, marine science, and energy, which are highly aligned with Taiwan's current policy priorities.

UGA President Yassine Lakhnech said in his speech that these are areas critical to technological sovereignty, and also areas where an alliance between France and Taiwan can make a decisive difference. He added, "What we want to build is not a simple partnership, but a sustainable and ambitious strategic alliance." Taiwan's achievements in semiconductors, applied engineering, and precision technology are globally renowned, while France possesses first-class basic research, which can complement each other.

National Applied Research Laboratories President Tsai Hung-ying delivered a keynote speech, expounding on Taiwan's global leading position in the semiconductor field, which is based on decades of continuous promotion of scientific research, policies, and strategic investments, and the establishment of effective mechanisms to achieve rapid commercialization, transforming research into industrial results.

Thierry Damerval, Special Envoy for Science and Innovation at the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mentioned in his speech that the dialogue between Taiwan and France is regarded as one of the achievements of scientific diplomacy. Both sides share common values and visions regarding scientific excellence and its social significance.

Ambassador Hao Pei-chih, Taiwan's Representative to France; Donato Giorgi, Director for European and International Affairs at the French Ministry of Higher Education; Bruno Feignier, Deputy Commissioner of CEA; and Marie-Noëlle Battistel, Chair of the French National Assembly's Taiwan Friendship Group, who has always strongly supported Taiwan, also spoke at the opening ceremony. Their remarks echoed the importance of semiconductors and technological sovereignty.

Chen Ping-yu, Deputy Minister of the National Science and Technology Council, along with Chen Wei-jen, Director of the Science and Technology Division, Lu Mei-chen, Director of the Education Division, and Wu Hsiao-yin, Director of the Economic Division of the Taiwan Representative Office in France, also attended the opening ceremony. According to the agenda provided by UGA, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and the National Applied Research Laboratories will sign a memorandum of understanding on the 21st. (Editor: Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150421

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