Taipei: Former Vice President and internationally renowned epidemiologist Chen Chien-jen accepted the presidency of Academia Sinica at a handover ceremony Thursday, succeeding James C. Liao as head of Taiwan's top research institution. Chen will officially begin his five-year term on June 21.
According to Focus Taiwan, in his inaugural remarks, Chen outlined five priorities for his tenure as Academia Sinica approaches its centennial in 2028. He pledged to pursue academic excellence by supporting original, forward-looking research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and strengthening partnerships with universities and research institutes. Chen also vowed to build Academia Sinica into a premier research institution in the Asia-Pacific by expanding cooperation with leading global institutions and positioning Taiwan as an advocate and leader in international academic networks, while improving support systems to attract top talent.
Chen emphasized that Academia Sinica would continue supporting evidence-based policymaking to help address long-term challenges such as declining birth rates, population aging, climate change, the energy transition, and global health risks. He also pledged to promote knowledge transfer by encouraging senior researchers to mentor younger scholars and expanding public engagement through lectures, digital platforms, and social media.
On artificial intelligence, Chen stated that Academia Sinica would continue investing in cutting-edge research while establishing governance frameworks that safeguard ethics, privacy, human rights, and public trust. At Thursday's ceremony, Liao passed the official seal to Chen under the witness of Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim. Former President Tsai Ing-wen and former Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh also attended.
Hsiao praised Liao's decade-long leadership, noting his guidance in elevating Academia Sinica to world-class achievements in fields such as net-zero sustainability, quantum technology, and AI while deepening Taiwan's ties with the global academic community. As Chen takes office as the research institute's 13th president, Hsiao pointed out that Taiwan and the world face challenges including climate change, geopolitical tensions, supply chain restructuring, and rapid digital transformation. She expressed confidence that Chen's research expertise and international perspective would help Academia Sinica achieve further breakthroughs and cultivate world-class talent.
Liao expressed hope that the reforms introduced during his 10-year tenure would enable Academia Sinica to remain at the forefront of scientific research in the AI era. After stepping down, he will remain at Academia Sinica as a distinguished research fellow at the Institute of Biochemistry.