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Academia Sinica held its presidential handover ceremony today (June 18), with Academician Chen Chien-Jen assuming office as the 13th President of Academia Sinica from President James C. Liao. Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim presided over the ceremony, and former President Tsai Ing-wen was invited to attend. Former President Lee Yuan-Tseh, Academia Sinica academicians, colleagues, and distinguished guests from the academic and research communities gathered to witness this important moment of continuity and renewal for Academia Sinica.

In her remarks, Vice President Hsiao said that she was deeply honored to attend Academia Sinica’s presidential handover ceremony and to witness this important moment of leadership succession at Taiwan’s highest academic institution. On behalf of the President and the people of Taiwan, she expressed her sincere gratitude to outgoing President James C. Liao.

Vice President Hsiao noted that President Liao returned to Taiwan with the conviction that “when home calls, one should come back and contribute.” Over the past decade, he led Academia Sinica to achieve outstanding results in forward-looking fields such as net-zero sustainability, quantum technology, and artificial intelligence, while further strengthening Taiwan’s ties with the international academic community. During his tenure, he advanced institutional reform, talent development, and the establishment of the Southern Campus. He also led Academia Sinica through major scientific milestones, including its participation in producing the first-ever image of a black hole and the development of a 20-qubit superconducting quantum chip, laying a strong foundation for Taiwan’s scientific research and development.

Vice President Hsiao said that incoming President Chen Chien-Jen is a highly respected epidemiologist of international standing who combines distinguished academic achievements with extensive experience in public service. She expressed confidence that, under President Chen’s leadership, Academia Sinica will continue to advance and achieve new breakthroughs. In the face of global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical shifts, the net-zero transition, and artificial intelligence, she hoped that Academia Sinica would draw on its strong research capacity and broad international perspective to address societal needs through scholarship, cultivate more outstanding talent, and further enhance Taiwan’s international competitiveness and influence.

In his remarks, President Liao recalled that when he assumed office ten years ago, he was once asked what he intended to bring back to Taiwan. His answer was not a specific technology, but new ideas, systems, and practices that would enable Academia Sinica to become more forward-looking and integrated in a new era of science shaped by artificial intelligence. After taking office, he put forward the spirit of “Ambition & Wisdom for Humanity” and worked to realize three major visions for Academia Sinica: “Achieve Global Peaks of Excellence,” “Fulfill Critical Social Responsibilities,” and “Attract and Cultivate Top Talents.” During his first term, he focused on institution-building, adjusting evaluation, promotion, and reward systems to emphasize originality, impact, and long-term contributions, while encouraging colleagues to engage in research on critical issues. During his second term, he expanded the depth and breadth of academic development, promoted issue-oriented and cross-disciplinary integrated research, strengthened international cooperation, and established the distinctive goals of the Southern Campus. Based in southern Taiwan, the Southern Campus advances cutting-edge technologies while also promoting research on Taiwan’s history, culture, and society. President Liao expressed special thanks to the administrative team and all colleagues across Academia Sinica for working together to make them possible. After stepping down, President Liao will serve as a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, and continue to support cross-disciplinary team collaboration.

President Chen Chien-Jen stated that taking on the responsibility of leading Academia Sinica is not merely taking on a position, but accepting a profound responsibility entrusted to him. “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,” he said. Academia Sinica’s achievements today, he noted, are built upon the outstanding leadership and broad vision of past presidents, the foresight of generations of scholars, and the long-standing dedication of domestic and international academicians as well as colleagues throughout the institution in research, administration, and support roles. President Chen also expressed special gratitude to President Liao for his years of dedication and many initiatives, which have enabled Academia Sinica to continue advancing toward world-class standards in a number of key research fields and have made Taiwan more visible within the global academic community.

President Chen stated that, in the future, he will uphold the balanced development of the humanities and social sciences together with the natural sciences, foster an academic environment that supports free inquiry and long-term research, continue to support original, forward-looking, and high-potential research, deepen international connections, and lead Academia Sinica toward securing its position as a world-class research institution as it approaches its centennial. He emphasized that research is not only the pursuit of knowledge, but should also serve as a trusted pillar when society needs it most. Facing multiple challenges such as declining birth rates, population aging, climate change, energy transition, and global health risks, Academia Sinica will continue to work with partners across sectors, integrate cross-disciplinary research outcomes, support public policy with scientific evidence, and help the nation address long-term development challenges. He also expressed the hope that, while cultivating the next generation of researchers and passing knowledge from one generation to the next, Academia Sinica will continue to bring knowledge beyond the research community and engage in broader dialogue with society through its long-standing Open House, as well as more recent initiatives such as Children’s Science Day, the South Campus Open House, Academia Sinica Lectures, AS Researchers Tell, and digital platforms.

Former President Tsai Ing-Wen, who was invited to attend the ceremony, expressed special thanks to President Liao. She recalled that ten years ago, when she appointed President Liao to lead Academia Sinica, she firmly believed that his profound academic achievements, international vision, and commitment to returning to Taiwan to shoulder responsibility would inject new momentum into the continued development of Taiwan’s scientific community. , President Liao’s strong leadership and fruitful achievements have fully responded to the expectations and trust placed in him. Former President Tsai stated that President Chen possesses rich academic and administrative governance experience. In his service, he has consistently demonstrated the rigor, confidence, and resilience of a scientist, as well as a warm and generous character. She expressed confidence that, with his capacity for action and deep concern for Taiwanese society, President Chen will continue to lead Academia Sinica forward.

Incoming President Chen Chien-Jen graduated from the Department of Zoology at National Taiwan University and received his Ph.D. in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University in the United States. His research expertise spans epidemiology, human genetics, public health, and preventive medicine. He is an internationally renowned expert on blackfoot disease, chronic arsenic poisoning, hepatitis B, and liver cancer, making outstanding contributions to the development of global public health. Prior to assuming the presidency of Academia Sinica, President Chen was a Distinguished Research Fellow at Academia Sinica’s Genomics Research Center. He previously served as Dean of the College of Public Health at National Taiwan University, Vice President of Academia Sinica, Minister of Health, Minister of the National Science Council, Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and Premier of the Executive Yuan. Throughout his public service—particularly during the SARS and COVID-19 public health crises—he played a leading role in Taiwan’s disease prevention and response efforts, combining scientific expertise with compassionate public service. President Chen was elected an Academician of Academia Sinica in 1998, and later elected a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences, an International Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and a Member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. He has also received major honors including the Presidential Science Prize, the First Class Professional Merit Award of the Executive Yuan, the Executive Yuan Outstanding Science and Technology Contribution Award, and the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon.

In addition to the attendance of Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim, former President Tsai Ing-Wen, and former Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-Tseh, today’s handover ceremony also welcomed a distinguished group of invited guests. Among them were Political Deputy Minister of Education Chang-Liao Wan-Chien, Political Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Chih-Chung, Administrative Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chuang Jen-Hsiang, Academia Historica President Chen Yi-Shen, National Palace Museum Director Hsiao Tsung-Huang, National Taiwan University President Chen Wen-Chang, National Chengchi University President Li Tsai-Yen, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University President Lin Chi-Hung.