Defense R&D to be promoted at universitiesSETTING PRIORITIES: The program would target seven research areas, with the ministries of science and technology and defense splitting the costBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterThe government is to budget NT$5 billion (US$175.6 million) over the next five years to promote a program on the research and development (R&D) of defense technologies at local universities, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of National Defense announced yesterday. From left, Executive Yuan Office of Science and Technology Deputy Executive Secretary Andrew Yeh, Deputy Minister of National Defense Lee Tsung-hsiao, Minister of Science and Technology Wu Tsung-tsong and others yesterday pose during a news conference announcing a joint defense technology research and development program between the two ministries and universities. Technologies related to artificial intelligence, 5G and even 6G communications, Internet of Things, as well as quantum computing, are key to defense technology development, Wu said, encouraging students to study in the related fields. The defense ministry has over the past two months met with faculty and students at National Taiwan University and National Cheng Kung University to promote defense technology, Deputy Minister of National Defense Vice Admiral Lee Tsung-hsiao (李宗孝) said. Many experts on defense technology have worked at the Chungshan institute, while students in the new program would also be able to seek employment in the private sector, he said.

Source: Taipei Times December 16, 2020 15:56 UTC