Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), one of the top four technological universities in the United States, will host a high-level forum on “Global Technology Strategy and workforce Development” on Saturday, December 7, from 1 PM to 9:30 PM at Taipei Syntrend Creative Park (12F, No. 2, Section 3, Civic Boulevard, Zhongzheng District, Taipei). The forum will feature panel discussions on innovation and entrepreneurship, talent development, artificial intelligence (AI), and sustainable business practices. In addition to inviting experts from the United States, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan and Thailand, the event will welcome prominent figures from Taiwan’s industry, government, academia, and research sectors. These include Liu Cheng, Vice President of Tunghai University; Chang Ruey-Shiong, former President of National Taipei University of Business; Cai Qiyan, CIO of Taiwan Mobile; Albert Weng, Chairman and CEO Assistant of Qisda Corporation; and Dr. Kai Hua, Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft Taiwan, among others.
The election of Donald Trump as U.S. President has not only reshaped the United States but also rewritten global geopolitics and economic dynamics, with significant impacts on Taiwan’s industries. The technology sector is particularly affected, as the semiconductor industry is expected to increase investments in the U.S., led by TSMC and its ecosystem’s relocation overseas. Other AI-related upstream and downstream industries will also face challenges. Additionally, Trump’s energy policies, while less focused on renewable energy than Biden’s, coincide with Taiwan’s need to accelerate renewable energy adoption as it phases out nuclear power.
Another key issue is the shift in supply chains. As the U.S. and China continue to decouple, Taiwanese businesses must strategize their presence in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the U.S. Despite lacking diplomatic recognition, they face substantial challenges and must partner with local strategic allies. Furthermore, addressing talent shortages, fostering innovation, and building an innovative ecosystem are critical challenges for Taiwan’s government and industries. In response, Georgia Tech has organized this summit to address issues related to “Global Technology Strategy and Future workforce Development.”
The event is also co-hosted by the Lee Kuan Yew Technology Development Foundation, and the Southeast Asia Impact Alliance. According to Shelton Chan, Managing Director Director of Asia region for International Development, and Dr. Michael Best, Executive Director of IPaT at Georgia Tech, the institution aims to strengthen Taiwan-U.S. ties by building a bridge and platform for technology workforce collaboration. A series of Taiwan-U.S. academic and industrial collaboration programs and a comprehensive ecosystem will be developed, actively seeking suitable partners from industry, government, and academia for further cooperation.
