The Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City in Tainan, coordinated by the Executive Yuan, combines the efforts of 13 government institutions, including the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the National Develop-ment Council. As part of the Science City project, NSTC has been responsible for the con-struction and operation of the Cyber Security & Smart Technology R&D Building complex. On Oct. 7, NSTC held a beam-raising ceremony for Building B, the latest installation in the complex. Vice Premier Wen-tsan Cheng, who presided over the ceremony, expressed hope that Buildings A and B of the Cyber Security & Smart Technology R&D Complex could be-come a base for the development of information security, smart tech, and startup industries in Taiwan, as well as link up with neighboring regions to form the Southern Taiwan Technology Corridor and drive industrial transformation and upgrades.

Vice Premier Cheng also stated that the goals of establishing the Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City are to create new and innovative industries, construct smart eco-cities, promote balance between northern and southern Taiwan, and increase development opportu-nities in the south. NSTC shall be responsible for the construction and operation of Building A of the Cyber Security & Smart Technology R&D Complex, which focuses on the devel-opment of cyber security technology, smart transportation, smart health, and smart living. Companies in these fields are recruited to Building A, the occupancy rate of which has al-ready reached 93%. Building B is planned to complement this with a focus on future-oriented chip and quantum technology, smart technology, and precision medicine, aiming to operate at an international standard and combine the capabilities of the industrial, government, academ-ic, and research sectors of nearby regions to build an international hub for semiconductor in-novation.

NSTC Minister Tsung-Tsong Wu illustrated that Building B of the Cyber Security & Smart Technology R&D Complex will join with Building A in the development of future-oriented chips. NSTC will provide a many-to-many matchmaking service to connect indus-tries with academic and research institutes. In addition, NSTC will showcase the innovative and technological R&D of southern Taiwan to attract international companies to Shalun and help Taiwan make great strides in the fields of future-oriented chips, cyber security, and smart tech, raising international competitiveness and driving innovation throughout these in-dustries.

Minister Wu further stated that Building A of the complex, which officially opened in 2021, brought together domestic manufacturers through inter-ministerial collaboration and corporate resources. Their combined capabilities rapidly led to the formation of industry R&D and startup clusters, accelerating cyber security and smart tech development in Taiwan. At present, the Cybersecurity & Smart Technology R&D Complex contains the completed Cy-bersecurity Collaboration Base, Industrial Control Attack and Defense Base, Smart Transpor-tation Simulation Platform, and Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA SOUTH). Twenty cybersecurity and smart technology-related companies have been recruited to the complex, including CHT Security, Digiforen Technology, MediaTek, and CyCarrier Technology. In addition, the com-plex houses 46 startup teams, linking the capabilities of the industrial, government, academic, and research sectors to further accelerate R&D.

Building B is planned to comprise of five above-ground floors and two basement floors; it will be linked with the Academia Sinica South Campus in Zone E of Shalun Science City, the Green Energy Technology Demonstration Site of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Zone D, and the Shalun Medical Service and Innovation Park of National Cheng Kung Uni-versity in Zones F and X. Partnering with surrounding universities and the talent they pro-duce, Shalun will become a key hub for semiconductor chip, cyber security, and smart tech development. Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City, along with major science parks in Chiayi, Ciaotou, and Kaohsiung, will jointly form the Southern Taiwan Technology Corridor.

In the future, NSTC also plans to provide training programs related to the above fields at the complex to strengthen the education of local and international innovators and utilize the capabilities of corporations in the region to assist on-site and regional manufacturers with R&D and innovation so as to shorten the R&D timeframe. NSTC hopes to allow Buildings A and B of the Cyber Security & Smart Technology R&D Complex to become an important base for manufacturers in southern Taiwan and increase employment opportunities. With the increase in employment, the installation of an R&D base, and the government's progressive establishment of the Southern Taiwan Technology Corridor, investment will further increase, forming the area into an international center of semiconductor chip innovation and an im-portant base for the development of the cyber security and smart tech industries in the Asia-Pacific region.