Creative capabilities, world stage
The AIT sees itself as a bridge between the US and Taiwan, and Brent Christensen, director of its Taipei office, states that one of his top priorities since taking up his post in 2018 has been to increase Taiwan’s role in the global community. Two examples of the AIT’s efforts to build mutual friendship are the Taiwan competitions that it organized for the “Fishackathon” and the “NASA Hackathon.”
In response to the holding of the Fishackathon coding competition by the US Department of State starting in 2014, the AIT invited coders to propose digital solutions for problems in marine environmental protection and fisheries development, to ensure the sustainability of marine resources. In 2016 the Taiwanese start-up company Akubic won the world championship and US$10,000 at the 3rd Fishackathon for its “Great Lakes Savior” project.
Encouraged by the success of the Fishackathon, AIT next organized the Taiwan event of the world’s largest hackathon competition: the NASA Hackathon (a.k.a. the NASA International Space Apps Challenge).
Taiwan’s innovative capabilities proved to be surprisingly strong. The 2017 Taiwan champion team, “Space Bar,” entered the world finals, and won out over a field that included 187 locations, 25,140 participants, and 2,017 technology applications. The team won NASA’s global “Best Mission Concept” award for an app that can interpret debris flow data.
In order to share the soft power of technology and innovation, the US Department of State has arranged for the American Innovation Center (located in Taipei’s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park) to regularly hold 3D printing workshops, robot combat camps, and courses on the latest technologies, such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and blockchains, all free of charge. Mutual exchanges of knowledge, culture and technology between Taiwan and the US are in the original spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act, creating firm bonds of friendship that tie the two sides tightly together across changing times.
The “Mobile American Corner” of the American Institute in Taiwan visits remote primary schools all over Taiwan to teach children about American culture.
The “Mobile American Corner” of the American Institute in Taiwan visits remote primary schools all over Taiwan to teach children about American culture.
The “Mobile American Corner” of the American Institute in Taiwan visits remote primary schools all over Taiwan to teach children about American culture.
Through the Fulbright scholarship program, the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange has brought outstanding Americans to Taiwan to work as assistant English teachers. (courtesy of the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange)
Through the Fulbright scholarship program, the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange has brought outstanding Americans to Taiwan to work as assistant English teachers. (courtesy of the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange)
Study in the US has been a dream for many people, and is an important facet of Taiwan–US relations. The photo was taken on the campus of Stanford University. (photo by Chuang Kung-ju)
The AIT’s American Innovation Center periodically holds 3D printing workshops, allowing attendees to use 3D printing technology to make all kinds of stylish-looking products. (photo by Jimmy Lin)
The new AIT building in Taipei.