Taipei: Czech Science Minister Marek ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦½en­‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡ek and U.K. National Technology Adviser Dave Smith opened their countries' pavilions at SEMICON Taiwan 2025 in Taipei Wednesday. ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦½en­‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡ek emphasized the Czech Republic's semiconductor cluster showcased in the pavilion, aiming to enhance cooperation with Taiwan. Jan Michal, head of CzechInvest, accompanied him, aiming to highlight the Czech industry's strengths and establish connections with Taiwanese partners.

According to Focus Taiwan, ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦½en­‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡ek's visit is notable as it marks the first time a serving Czech government minister has visited Taiwan, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties between Prague and Taipei. Dave Smith highlighted the participation of 34 British firms, a record number, aligning with the U.K.'s new industrial strategy to boost its semiconductor industry. This strategy was launched in June, reflecting the U.K.'s commitment to reinforcing its technology sector.

U.K. Representative to Taiwan Ruth Bradley-Jones commended Taiwan's semiconductor and AI capabilities, emphasizing the complementary nature of U.K. innovation and Taiwan's manufacturing strengths. She expressed optimism about the potential of the U.K.-Taiwan partnership.

Event organizers reported that SEMICON Taiwan 2025 features 17 national pavilions, the highest to date, with new participants from Canada, Costa Rica, Lithuania, Sweden, and Vietnam. The event has attracted over 1,200 companies, with 4,100 booths and an expected attendance of more than 100,000 participants.