Chen Liang-gee (陳良基)

San Francisco, Oct. 19 (CNA) Taiwan looks forward to boosting its cooperation with the United States through the cultivation of high-level scientific and entrepreneurial talent, Science and Technology Minister Chen Liang-gee (陳良基) said Thursday.

Speaking at the launch ceremony of the Learn, Explore, Aspire, Pioneer (LEAP) camp in Silicon Valley in California, Chen said the program is among a number of government initiatives designed to strengthen the nation's high-tech talent pool.

Unveiled earlier this year, the LEAP program is a talent cultivation initiative that offers Taiwanese doctorate holders the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge industrial technology research and development in Silicon Valley for one year.

According to the technology minister, 35 participants were selected for the training camp, which comprises case study presentations, exchange activities with Silicon Valley professionals and seminars by tech industry experts.

Chen said that the LEAP initiative will foster innovation by helping top Taiwanese talent to establish professional networks in the U.S. and learn about emerging trends in key sectors like the Internet of Things, Big Data, smart technology applications, and Artificial Intelligence.

Through the program, Taiwan aims to help its talent play a major role in the world's technology developments over the next 10 years, he added.

According to the ministry, some 16 international enterprises based in Silicon Valley have offered training opportunities for Taiwanese under the LEAP project, including IBM, semiconductor firm Applied Materials Inc., and graphics chipmaker Nvidia Corp.

(By Chang Ke-yi and Ko Lin)
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