By Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterThe Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) plans to set up new semiconductor research centers to boost industrial applications of space technology, quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI), Minister of Science and Technology Chen Liang-gee (陳良基) said yesterday. After promoting the semiconductor “moonshot” program for nearly two years, the ministry is considering establishing new semiconductor research centers across the nation to create clusters of professionals, he said. However, the government could do more to increase the basic research budget, Chen said. By comparison, the research and development funding of private firms totals NT$450 billion every year, of which only a few percent is used to support academic research, he said, expressing hope that companies would devote more funding to academic research. The other 26 are Taiwanese, including seven who are joining natural science departments, 10 joining engineering departments, seven joining life sciences departments and two joining humanities departments, ministry data showed.
