Welcome and Report

Liu-hsiung Chuang, Ph.D., Chairman and President of TASTA

I am happy to welcome you to TASTA's web site. TASTA was founded in May 2002 by a group of dedicated Taiwanese American professionals in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. TASTA is a registered non-profit, community organization.

The mission of TASTA is to promote cooperation between the Americans in the United States and the people of Taiwan in the scientific, technological and industrial development. This is a broad mission and high expectations of TASTA members.

In pursuing our mission, TASTA has been very active in several projects in the past year. In July 2002, we organized a U.S.-Taiwanese business conference for the delegation of Tainan Science-based Industrial Park, the largest and expanding science-based industrial park in Taiwan, to present their investment promotion program. We had a total attendance of about 90, and we received great introduction and interest from local media and media from Taiwan.

In August last year, we participated in welcoming the Kaohsiung County Governor, and his delegation from Taiwan, who was here to promote investment in Lu-Chu Science-based Industrial Park in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan. TASTA members and associates were enthusiastic participants in the conference.

In last September and October, TASTA organized one meeting for the Taiwan’s delegation of Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park, led by its Director, Dr. James Lee, to meet with leaders of several new biotech industries in Maryland Technology Development Center on the subjects of mutual cooperation and development, and another conference for the delegation to introduce the progress and prospects of the world-known Science-based Industrial Parks in Taiwan.

Since November last year TASTA has been developing an International Workshop on Nano-Technology. As a main sponsor, TASTA will organize the workshop with support from the U.S. National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as the National Science Council (NSC) of Taiwan; Unfortunately, due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS), our scheduled program for the workshop in the September this year will be postponed till December this year or later; However, we are still receiving firm commitment from these three funding cooperators for the workshop.

TASTA seeks to develop network and alliance with scientific and technological, as well as industrial organizations. I am glad to report, that since last November, TASTA has established an associate- organization relationship with the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, a well-run organization with more than 100 business entities having interest in the U.S. and Taiwan. Some of our members have been regularly receiving the Council's weekly news letters. TASTA has also been actively networking with the Taiwanese Industry and Technology Associations in Taiwan and the U.S.

TASTA is currently surveying the retiring or retired members and members of associated Taiwanese American organizations to identify professional volunteers, who want to take short-term work in Taiwan. A database will be developed to match the expertise available and the needs of companies in Taiwan. For this, I will appreciate your active response and support.

TASTA is looking forward to enhance our network and association with science and industrial communities in the greater Washington D.C. region. Our focus will be the research organizations and the venture capital organizations here.

One of the main goals for individual industry's integration between the U.S. and Taiwan is to have a U.S.-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement. In the free trade environment, new ideas, patented knowledge and technologies, financial capital and entrepreneurs could more easily flow between the two countries, resulting additional benefits to businesses and people in the U.S. and Taiwan.

TASTA needs your ideas, participation and involvement in putting our joint vision into reality. Only with your sustaining actions with vigor can we harvest the fruits of victory.

Thanks for the participation and support in the past year. With your dedicated support and participation we are looking forward to have more productive year and years to come.

Liu-hsiung Chuang

Chairman and President

TASTA