Taiwan's scientific ties with Russia will be strengthened over the next three years because NT$108.5 million (US$3.4 million) will be available for at least 60 collaborative research projects ranging from basic to applied sciences, Deputy Minister of the National Science Council Shieh Ching-jyh (
Late last month, Shieh visited Russia and revised a bilateral agreement signed with the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) last November. The pact ensures that a mutual fund of NT$76.6 million (US$2.4 million) for joint research projects will be increased by an additional NT$31.9 million (US$1 million).
"Since we've received more than 100 proposals, which show the potentially great results of scientific research, we decided to offer more support to scientists from both sides," Shieh said at a press conference yesterday.
Shieh said that Taiwan will be responsible for offering about US$2.4 million for the bilateral scientific collaboration. The fund will be used from this year until 2007 to support three international conferences and 60 research projects with topics ranging from aerospace, nanotechnology, material sciences and financial management.
Shieh said that during his trip to Russia, a representative of Moscow State University, the largest and the most influential one in Russia, also expressed interest in working with Taiwan's space scientists on satellite projects.
"We might send skilled engineers and scientists to the university, which has a reputation in the design of artificial satellites. They would do scientific research on projects involving joint satellites," Shieh said.
Meanwhile, the council is also strengthening its connection with Latvia and Lithuania by financially supporting six research projects pertaining to nanoscience, organic chemistry, biomedicine, genetics and ecological statistics.
"We hope to extend our contacts to as many countries as we can. In Eastern Europe, we can benefit from working with excellent scientists who have strong backgrounds in mathematics, high energy physics, and others," Lin Kwang-lung (
Lin said Taiwan was interested in promoting research on high energy physics, saying that an agreement on Neutron Beam Applications Research was recently signed by the council and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization. Lin said that Taiwan might contribute NT$191 million to Australia for future use of its newly completed research facility, which cost NT$7.9 billion.
"By using the unique facilities, Taiwan's scientists might be able to learn about the structure of biomaterials. We predict that results could be gained soon to improve Taiwan's biotechnology and medicine," Lin said.
On August 1, the council will launch a new science and technology division in New Delhi to further strengthen scientific ties. James Chang (
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday said it is fully aware of the situation following reports that the son of ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai (薄熙來) has arrived in Taiwan and is to marry a Taiwanese. Local media reported that Bo Guagua (薄瓜瓜), son of the former member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, is to marry the granddaughter of Luodong Poh-Ai Hospital founder Hsu Wen-cheng (許文政). The pair met when studying abroad and arranged to get married this year, with the wedding breakfast to be held at The One holiday resort in Hsinchu
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon this morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan between Friday and Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The storm, which as of 8am was still 1,100km southeast of southern Taiwan, is currently expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, the CWA said. Because of its rapid speed — 28kph as of 8am — a sea warning for the storm could be issued tonight, rather than tomorrow, as previously forecast, the CWA said. In terms of its impact, Usagi is to bring scattered or
An orange gas cloud that leaked from a waste management plant yesterday morning in Taoyuan’s Guanyin District (觀音) was likely caused by acidic waste, authorities said, adding that it posed no immediate harm. The leak occurred at a plant in the district’s Environmental Science and Technology Park at about 7am, the Taoyuan Fire Department said. Firefighters discovered a cloud of unidentified orange gas leaking from a waste tank when they arrived on the site, it said, adding that they put on Level A chemical protection before entering the building. After finding there was no continuous leak, the department worked with the city’s Department
RSS