TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC, 國科會) minister warned on Tuesday (Jan. 14) that the implementation of the "Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures" (財劃法) this year would be "a horrible disaster" for researchers across Taiwan.
The Legislative Yuan (立法院) recently passed an amendment to the Act, which the council predicts will affect approximately NT$20 billion of the 2025 budget. This change threatens to disrupt critical sectors such as basic scientific research, artificial intelligence, and space technology. The council convened a committee meeting to outline the 2026 government science development priorities, revealing a budget requirement of NT$180 billion.
NSTC Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) emphasized Taiwan's crucial role in the supply chain of free and democratic countries, stressing the need for an unaffected science budget. He noted the meticulous nature of the government's budget compilation process. Should the NT$180 billion science budget face cuts, Wu indicated the council would reassess priorities, likely preserving basic research while adjusting some policy projects.
The council's previous assessment showed that a proportional cut in the 2025 budget would primarily impact basic research, chip innovation, AI, space technology, and net-zero technology, with an estimated NT$20 billion affected.