Taiwan leads Asia with 15 wins at the R&D 100 awards

Taiwanese research institutions achieved significant recognition by earning 15 awards at this year’s R&D 100 Awards, the highest number for any Asian country and the second-highest globally, coming in just behind the United States, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

This year’s 15 awards mark a new milestone for Taiwan, setting a record for the most the country has ever won, the MOEA’s Department of Industrial Technology announced during a press conference.

Taiwan’s award-winning innovations spanned diverse fields, including semiconductors, ICT, net zero, and artificial intelligence (AI), as highlighted by the department.

Economic Affairs Minister Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) emphasized that Taiwan’s R&D achievements, supported by the MOEA, have consistently earned accolades at the R&D 100 Awards for 17 consecutive years, amassing a total of 97 awards.

Notably, Kuo pointed out that 90% of the MOEA-backed technologies honored this year have been commercialized through either transfer to manufacturers or the creation of new startups. Additionally, nine of the winning technologies were developed in partnership with industry players, positioning them for further application in related sectors.

One standout innovation was the “MOSAIC, Memory-cube Operability in a Stacked AI Chip for Generative AI,” a collaboration between the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. This technology reduces power usage by 90% while increasing data speeds eightfold.

Moreover, the CO2-Fixing Polycarbonate project, jointly developed by ITRI and CHIMEI Corp., has been shown to cut carbon emissions by 178,500 tons annually, according to Kuo.

Globally, ITRI ranked third in terms of awards won, tying with the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the U.S. with eight accolades.

The department noted that Taiwan’s strong performance solidifies its leadership in key global tech sectors, particularly semiconductors, ICT, AI, and net zero, supported by strategic government policies and research institution efforts.

Looking ahead, the department committed to backing more research initiatives and transforming innovative technologies into real-world applications, while continuing to work closely with industry to ensure these advancements drive industrial progress and bolster Taiwan’s global competitiveness.