Grand Opening of Taiwan National Archives’ First International Conference

A major international event in the archival field has officially commenced! Taiwan's first National Archives is hosting the two-day "International Conference on Archives Management - Digital Governance and Smart Services" starting today (June 10). Minister Yeh Chun-Hsien of the National Development Council (NDC) delivered the welcome remarks, kicking off this prestigious transnational gathering.

In his speech, Minister Yeh stated that this inaugural international conference hosted by the National Archives focuses on the multifaceted dimensions of archives management and services in the digital era. Looking toward the future, the conference explores the use of information technology to advance digital governance and smart services within the archival field. The ultimate goal is to unleash the intrinsic value of archives from the perspective of convenient accessibility, turning them into knowledge assets within everyone's reach.

This event features a distinguished lineup of participants, including Dr. Trudy Huskamp Peterson, former Archivist of the United States, and Ms. Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada, alongside leading domestic scholars and experts in archives, information technology, and digital humanities. Through a blend of broad global visions and practical insights, paired with international professional depth, the conference aims to proactively address the challenges and opportunities brought by smart technologies, map out future implementation paths, and realize the vision of an open and transparent smart government.

Minister Yeh emphasized that the government is currently making a full-scale push for the "New Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects" to realize the national vision of transforming Taiwan into a "Smart Technology Island." National archives, which record the nation's development and preserve its long-term historical context, serve as an indispensable data foundation for AI development. Consequently, the administration will evolve with the times, leveraging emerging technologies to innovate archives management and services. By integrating digital multimedia and smart technologies, the archives will provide convenient and diverse access, thereby materializing the vision of an open and transparent smart government.

Director-General Lin Chiu-Yen delivered the opening remarks address titled "Smart Service and Public Access: The First National Archives of Taiwan." She shared that digital governance and smart services are two sides of the same coin. With the completion and opening of Taiwan's first National Archives, the goal is to achieve smart services through digital governance. By upholding professionalism and innovation, the National Archives aims to become a vital pillar for inheriting historical memory, uniting generational emotions, and inspiring future insights.

Following the opening keynote, Dr. Peterson delivered a keynote presentation titled "Archives in the Age of AI.", she emphasized that while AI possesses powerful information-retrieval capabilities, archival appraisal and ethical judgment remain irreplaceable core competencies of archival professionals. Like Janus, archival professionals must guard historical truth while possessing the foresight to anticipate the future. Furthermore, establishing international standards is an indispensable cornerstone for archival management moving toward AI integration.

The Archives Administration pointed out that besides Dr. Peterson's insightful presentation, the conference features panel discussions and thematic sessions where numerous domestic and international scholars and experts will engage in deep, cross-disciplinary dialogues on topics such as digital archival applications, digital competencies, digital resilience, digital governance, and digital transformation. Notably, Ms. Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada, has been invited to speak tomorrow (June 11) to share the pivotal concepts and experiences behind the planning and construction of Canada's new smart facility, Ādisōke. Through professional exchanges and international dialogue, participants will explore the infinite possibilities at the intersection of archives and technology.

Looking ahead, the Archives Administration will carry forward the innovative ideas sparked by all sectors during this conference. By keeping pace with global trends, the administration aims to inject new energy into the digital governance and smart services of Taiwan's National Archives.Website for the International Conference on Archives Management - Digital Governance and Smart Services: https://naicam.com.tw/