On October 29, the Research Institute of Democracy, Society, and Emerging Technology (DSET) visited Stanford University’s Taiwan Science & Technology Hub, expanding Taiwan’s Track 1.5 tech diplomacy efforts in Silicon Valley.
DSET Director Dr. Wen-Ling Tu and Executive Director Dr. Chih-Cheng Chang introduced DSET’s mission and achievements over the past year, particularly its collaborations with leading think tanks. Representing the Taiwan Science & Technology Hub, Executive Director Laura Smoliar and Project Manager Ellen Zeng discussed potential future collaborations to strengthen Taiwan-U.S. research and policy exchange.
Established in 2023 at Stanford University, the Taiwan Science & Technology Hub is part of Taiwan’s broader Taiwan-U.S. research collaboration platform. It integrates resources between Taiwan and the San Francisco Bay Area, enhancing Taiwan’s global research reputation. Smoliar noted that DSET’s policy research focus aligns closely with the hub’s objectives. Tu emphasized that, as a research center based at National Chengchi University, DSET can contribute to resource-sharing and collaboration.
Dr. Chang highlighted the long-standing cycle of research talent exchange between Taiwan and the U.S., which has been instrumental in the success of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. Taiwanese semiconductor professionals have benefited from cutting-edge research in the U.S. and the highly competitive, internationalized environment of Silicon Valley, bringing these experiences back to Taiwan’s domestic industry. He stressed the importance of further strengthening Taiwan-U.S. research talent exchanges and expressed hope for continued collaboration with the Taiwan Science & Technology Hub to facilitate mutual research visits.
Smoliar agreed and emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue between the two research centers. She also welcomed DSET’s future visits to Stanford and the Bay Area to deepen understanding of Taiwan’s technology policy within the U.S. academic and research communities.