What is the ITRI doing?
Broadly speaking, the work of the ITRI can be divided into two main areas. The first is that of accepting commissions from government units (especially the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) which directs industrial technological development). This includes taking on topical special technology development projects, along with generalities such as assisting in upgrading plans for traditional industries. This kind of work is generally on a large scale, and its technical level puts it into the mid--to long-term research and development bracket (three to five years). The results are then fairly and openly transferred to businesses. After the ITRI receives a government commission, it uses a contract by which money is supplied according to the budget plans laid down for that commission. The form of a contract is used to clearly stipulate the rights and obligations of the government,the ITRI and any participating manufacturers.
In the past, special government projects were very few, at not more than three or four a year. In recent years, though, there has been an increase, with the number jumping to 34 last year. Previously all such projects were taken on by the ITRI singlehandedly and then transferred out when the research and development was completed. Now the wish is for more and more medium and large manufacturers to take part, on the one hand supplying funds for research and development and on the other learning from the process and discussing things with each other and thus arriving at more efficiency in research and development.
As well as this, in recent years Taiwan's financial strength has grown and the New Taiwan Dollar has appreciated significantly. This has led the ITRI to begin introducing technology from abroad, becoming a technological bridge between foreign high technology and domestic businesses and shortening the length of time spent on research and development. In future the institute can even extend this introduction of technology to mainland China and speed up scientific and technical cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Apart from accepting special government commissions, the other main job of the ITRI is to accept commissions from the private sector, looking at its different needs, fixing contracts and doing research and development under various headings. This kind of technology is mostly short-range and can be put on the market as soon as the manufacturer gets it. The ITRI also uses the technology it already possesses to undertake technological guidance and transfer work, for which it receives some fees for its services.
So as to allow the ITRI's research and development results to get known throughout business circles, apart from publicity meetings, research seminars, and its five service "windows" spread throughout Taiwan, each one of the laboratories has a number of technical promoters who go to all areas, just like salesmen, to promote their technology.
Greetings cards invention of the electronics laboratory, who have been honored as "the little soldier with great accomplishments.".