Country has underperformed in IT markets, says science minister

Taiwan's National Science Council is asking Intel for help in beefing up its marketing and commercial skills when it comes to technology.

Chen Chien-jen, Minister of the National Science Council, told reporters that the body had been underperforming in getting its technologies out to the world.

"We will take advantage of Intel's strength in commercialising technologies and marketing them to the world. These are two qualities which the National Science Council has lacked in past projects," he said.

Chen made the announcement while signing a memorandum of understanding with Intel's Taiwanese arm during the two-day Intel Developer Forum at the Taipei International Convention Centre.

John Antone, general manager of Intel Asia-Pacific, praised the technology coming out of Taiwan and maintained that the deal would help get the technology into people's hands around the world.

"Taiwan is on a par with, or even exceeds in some areas, other countries that are well-known in the IT arena such as the US and Japan," he said.

Taiwan is now expected to court other companies to help its technological research become commercially viable.