Stanford University's Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) launched the Taiwan Program this Thursday, listing it alongside the center’s other permanent programs featuring Japan, Korea, China, and others. Stanford University President Richard Saller said the program highlights the importance of Taiwan-U.S. relations and will explore Taiwan’s progress as well as the challenges it faces economically and socially.

Stanford launched the Taiwan Program with an inaugural full-day conference themed Innovate Taiwan: Shaping the Future of a Postindustrial Society. Professors and students attended as academic and industry leaders discussed topics such as health policy, biotechnology, societal trends, and economics.

APARC Director Gi-Wook Shin said the program will foster research-practice partnerships between the United States and Taiwan while contributing to Taiwan’s long-term development. Saller additionally pointed out that while the world evolves, Taiwan has been guiding and assisting social and industrial transformation, describing Taiwan as a beacon of contemporary democracy.

Shin mentioned that interest in Taiwan has been growing day by day, and emphasized that Taiwan occupies an important place on the world stage.