“Made in Taiwan” may be the first phrase that comes to mind when discussing Taiwanese innovation. Indeed, it was the semiconductor industry’s high-tech products that improved Taiwan’s prosperity. But what is the current status of research in Taiwan?

In his Editorial in Angewandte Chemie, Chi-Huey Wong, President of Academia Sinica and professor at the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA, outlines how Taiwanese research is changing in response to a need for a new knowledge-based economy and the establishment of new industries, such as biotechnology. He also discusses some of the current highlights in basic chemistry research, including reaction dynamics for atmospheric chemistry, as well as advances in chemical biology, materials science, and nanomedicine.

The role of Academia Sinica, the national academy of sciences and humanities and the most prestigious academic institution in Taiwan, is also discussed. Academia Sinica was founded in China in 1928 and moved to Taiwan in 1949. It supports research in the sciences, promotes young talents, and makes policy recommendations. One example of the commitment of the Academia Sinica to research and innovation is the construction of a new biotechnology park that brings together various research institutions.

• Chemistry in Taiwan and Academia Sinica,
  Chi-Huey Wong,
  Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015.
  DOI: 10.1002/anie.201504062