Lawmaker slams budget cut proposal targeting top academic institution

Democratic legislator Wu Si-yao strongly criticized Nationalist legislator Weng Hsiao-ling's proposal to slash NT$468 million from the Academia Sinica's budget, accusing Weng of targeting Academia Sinica President Chen Chien-jen and attempting to cripple the nation's highest academic body. The accusation came during a session of the Legislative Yuan's Education and Culture Committee.

Wu highlighted that the Academia Sinica, under its new president, faces significant operational challenges due to its general budget being delayed for 325 days. This uncertainty impacts research funding, talent cultivation, and overall research capacity. She detailed eight key areas affected: research funding uncertainty for institutes and centers, delays in project progress, difficulties in talent recruitment and retention, challenges in maintaining expensive equipment, limitations in AI computing power and research resources, impacts on basic operational facilities, research output, academic exchange, publishing, and international graduate student recruitment.

Weng's proposal, described by Wu as a "one-size-fits-all" approach, seeks to reduce 15 budget items totaling NT$468 million. These include funds for commissioned projects, special expenses, domestic membership fees, travel, communication, contract labor, insurance, domestic and international travel, training, temporary staff, shipping, general administrative expenses, and material costs. Weng justified the cuts by urging government agencies to adhere to austerity principles and reduce non-essential expenditures.

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All budgets are necessary, and the Academia Sinica will do its best to fight for it during cross-party negotiations.

In response, Chen Chien-jen emphasized that all budget allocations for the Academia Sinica are essential. He stressed the critical need for predictable and stable funding in the highly competitive global landscape of high-level scientific research talent. Such stability, he argued, is crucial for attracting top scientists and maintaining Taiwan's scientific competitiveness. Chen assured that the Academia Sinica would vigorously pursue its budget during cross-party negotiations.

Separately, Wu inquired about the Executive Yuan's plan to promote drone development through a special budget. Chen affirmed the growing importance of drones in both defense and civilian sectors, citing increasing global applications. He expressed support for continued national investment in enhancing drone development capabilities.

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Facing fierce global competition for high-level scientific research talent, research work most needs funding and a system that is predictable and highly stable to attract top scientists to engage in research and maintain the country's scientific competitiveness.