On June 3, 2025, DSET welcomed a delegation from Science and Technology Network under the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, to visit the center for an exchange. The visiting delegation included Mr. Fran Davies, Head of Global Science; Ms. Marie-Louise Taylor, Regional Director for Northeast Asia at the Science and Technology Network; and Ms. Jessica Henry, Head of the Economic Section at the British Office Taipei.
The UK delegation exchanged ideas with DSET on science diplomacy, the relations between technology and society, and the critical role research security plays in science and technology advancement. Fran Davies, Head of Global Science, said,” Taiwan is a critical partner for the UK’s global S&T ambitions and the visit laid the groundwork for a new partnership to strengthen UK-Taiwan cooperation.”
During the exchange, DSET CEO Dr. Chih-Cheng Chang shared DSET’s research on economic security and the results of studies related to research security. He emphasized Taiwan’s recent efforts to build systems that strengthen the protection of critical and core technologies while striving to balance academic freedom and national security. He also shared the unique challenges Taiwan’s academic research community faces in response to threats from China, noting Taiwan’s rich and distinctive experience in this regard, which holds valuable reference significance for other democratic countries.
Dr. Kai-Shen Huang, Director of the Democratic Governance Program, shared his recent visit to the UK on behalf of the center. He exchanged insights with prominent institutions and think tanks, including the Royal United Services Institute, Demos, Chatham House, and Article 19, further deepening Taiwan-UK cooperation and development in science and technology.
The National Security Program also shared progress on Taiwan-US and Taiwan-EU collaborations in the drone supply chain. They highlighted the importance of the UK-led Drone Coalition, which is aiding Ukraine, to Taiwan-EU cooperation on drones and expressed hopes for strengthening Taiwan-UK drone collaboration. In addition, the UK-France joint satellite company Eutelsat OneWeb plays a key role in enhancing Taiwan’s wartime communication resilience. DSET is currently researching Taiwan’s communication resilience and looks forward to deepening dialogues with UK suppliers on topics such as space and communication resilience.
Meanwhile, Dr. Tsaiying Lu, Director of the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Program, shared DSET’s co-authored report with the UK think tank China Strategic Risks Institute (CSRI) titled “Building a Resilient Solar Photovoltaic Supply Chain: Strategic Cooperation Analysis Report on Third-Generation Solar Technology between Taiwan and Europe.” She discussed Taiwan’s strengths in the development of third-generation solar technology and the new opportunities for joint market expansion between Taiwanese and European manufacturers.
This exchange not only enhanced mutual understanding of relevant Taiwan-UK issues but also revealed the rich potential and possibilities for cooperation and exchange between the two countries in emerging technologies and the protection of critical core technologies.
