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The fifth lecture of Academia Sinica’s TAIWAN BRIDGES Program welcomed Dr. Sir Richard J. Roberts, recipient of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, who delivered a lecture entitled “Why You Should Love GMOs?” Drawing on decades of engagement with the debate surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Sir Richard traced the origins of his advocacy and outlined the actions he has taken over the years, urging the public to evaluate genetically modified crops through the lens of scientific evidence rather than fear or misinformation
The 2026 Taipei International Book Exhibition officially opened today (February 3). Academia Sinica presents its exhibition under the theme “Blueprint,” showcasing nearly 3,000 interdisciplinary academic monographs and 400 volumes of compiled historical sources. From February 3 to 8, the exhibition will also feature 11 talks, inviting the public from all backgrounds to engage with scholarly researchers.
Following the announcement in 2023 of Taiwan’s first domestically designed and built 5-qubit superconducting quantum computer, Academia Sinica has reached another major R&D milestone, announcing today the successful development of a 20-qubit superconducting quantum computer. President James C. Liao noted last month that the Academia Sinica team completed a new generation 20-qubit superconducting quantum chip, designed and fabricated in-house, and successfully integrated into a full quantum computing system. This achievement positions Taiwan among the global frontrunners and marks the nation’s official entry into the critical domain of large-scale quantum chip fabrication. The system is already open to domestic academic and research institutions for quantum simulation and related studies, and will eventually serve as a test platform for industrial users in hardware-software integration and algorithm development.
The fourth lecture of Academia Sinica’s TAIWAN BRIDGES series was held yesterday (the 22nd), featuring Dr. Michel Mayor, Nobel Laureate in Physics (2019) and Emeritus Professor at the University of Geneva. Dr. Mayor delivered a lecture entitled “Is There a Planet B – Will Humanity Emigrate to an Exoplanet?” The lecture attracted more than 500 participants and explored major questions that may seem imaginative yet are grounded in scientific evidence, including “Does life exist elsewhere in the universe?” and “Can humans migrate to a second Earth?”
On January 16, Academia Sinica launched the third lecture of its TAIWAN BRIDGES series, welcoming 2012 Nobel Laureate in Physics, Dr. Serge Haroche, for a talk entitled “The Laser and Quantum Physics.” Drawing an audience of hundreds of faculty members and students, the lecture offered a compelling journey through a century of quantum physics, blending scientific rigor with intellectual elegance and inspiring lively exchange throughout the event.
President Lai Ching-Te appointed Academician Chen Chien-Jen as the 13th President of Academia Sinica on January 2. His term of office will run from June 21, 2026, to June 20, 2031.
In the second half of 2025, progress in trade negotiations and adjustments to U.S. tariff policies reduced market uncertainty and improved the global economic outlook. Expanding demand for AI and high-performance computing supported strong external demand and investment in Taiwan, benefiting related industries. Real GDP grew by 7.18% year on year in the first three quarters and is projected at 7.41% in 2025, an upward revision of 4.48 percentage points from the July forecast of 2.93%. In 2026, global trade is expected to remain affected by the lagged effects of U.S. tariff policies. Although AI-related industry expansion should continue to support external demand and investment, high base effects from 2025 are expected to moderate growth momentum. Overall, real GDP growth in 2026 is projected at 3.71%, with domestic demand and net foreign demand contributing 2.11% and 1.60%, respectively.
The 5th meeting of the 25th Academia Sinica Council was convened today (December 13) for the selection of candidates for the 13th President of Academia Sinica.
Academia Sinica and the CPC Corporation have recently drilled Taiwan’s first deep geothermal exploratory well. The joint project in Yuanshan, Yilan includes comprehensive geological and heat-source analyses. According to the Academia Sinica research team, this experimental well is the first to drill nearly 4,000 meters underground, with a bottom-hole temperature approaching 150 degrees Celsius, confirming the presence of an ascending heat source. The findings indicate that the deep geothermal resources in the northern Yilan Plain possess high development potential and warrant further exploration. Through the concerted efforts of industry, government, academia, and research institutions, deep geothermal energy may soon become a driving force in Taiwan’s green energy transition.
On December 1, Academia Sinica hosted the second TAIWAN BRIDGES series lecture, featuring Ms. Nadia Murad, recipient of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. In her lecture “Who Can Influence the End of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) Worldwide? – The Power of Personal Stories and the Role of Activism,” Ms. Murad discussed her personal journey and her longstanding advocacy of global human rights.
The Awards Ceremony for the Academia Sinica Early-Career Investigator Research Achievement Award and the Scholarly Monograph Award in the Humanities and Social Sciences was held on December 1. Six scholars and five monographs were selected for awards, which were presented by Academia Sinica President James C. Liao. President Liao remarked that there are few national-level awards in Taiwan established for scholars early in their careers. Academia Sinica Early-Career Investigator Research Achievement Award has continued recognizing research talent and encouraging young people to engage in innovative and frontier research for 30 years. The Scholarly Monograph Award in the Humanities and Social Sciences, on the other hand, recognizes books that demonstrate outstanding research and ground-breaking insights. It contributes to Taiwan’s scholarly advancement in areas such as history, culture, social development, and public policy. This year marks the first time that the two awards have been presented in a joint ceremony, deepening academic exchange and interdisciplinary dialogue and demonstrates the efforts to support diverse research talents and expand the frontiers of academic research in Taiwan.
Academia Sinica’s Institute of Ethnology (IOE) opened the special exhibition “Professor de Beauclair’s Grand Tour of Taiwan” on November 24, 2025, centering on its first foreign female researcher, Inez de Beauclair. The exhibition presents her life journey, which was devoted entirely to cultural exploration.
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