New Horizon
Taiwan-U.S. Cooperation on NextGen Digital Technology
On June 23, 2022, the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) and the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) co-hosted the event “New Horizon: Taiwan-US Cooperation on the NextGen Digital Technology” in Seattle. The event was attended by a delegation of several government officials and business leaders from Taiwan led by National Development Council Minister Ming-Hsin Kung.
This event examined prospects for U.S.-Taiwan cooperation in the digital economy and covered technology policy and business opportunities with a focus on 5G and 6G telecommunications, information, and communications technology (ICT), and other digital technologies.
The video below features remarks from Senator James Risch, United States Senate, and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, United States House of Representatives, recorded for the event.
Remarks from Senator James Risch and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene
Full Video: Part 1
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Full Video: Part 2
Agenda
OPENING REMARKS
Director General Daniel Chen, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle
Karolos Karnikis, The National Bureau of Asian Research
REMARKS
Lt. Governor Denny Heck, Washington State
RECORDED REMARKS
Senator James Risch, United States Senate
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, United States House of Representatives
KEYNOTE SPEECH
Minister Ming-Hsin Kung, National Development Council
REMARKS
Tom Robertson, Microsoft
RECORDED REMARKS
Minister Chen-Yuan Tung, Overseas Community Affairs Council
U.S.-TAIWAN ROUNDTABLE: The Development of Taiwan’s 5G/6G Open-RAN and Business Opportunities of the U.S. and Taiwan’s Cooperation on NextGen Telecom 5G/6G
Moderator
Doug Strub, The National Bureau of Asian Research
Discussants
Chen-Yu Feng, Pegatron Corporation
Tony Yang, Industrial Technology Research Institute
Jeffery Yan, Microsoft
Speaker Bios
Keynote Speaker
Ming-Hsin Kung – National Development Council
Ming-Hsin Kung is the Minister of the National Development Council in Taiwan. Minister Kung has also served as Minister without Portfolio at the Executive Yuan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Deputy Minister of the National Development Council. He has also been a member of the National Stabilization Fund Management Committee at the Executive Yuan, a consultant to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Vice President and Research Fellow at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research. Minister Kung received his PhD in Economics from National Chung Hsing University, his Master of Arts in Economics from National Taiwan University, and his BA in Statistics from Fu Jen Catholic University.
Speakers
Daniel Kuo-Ching Chen – Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle
Daniel Kuo-Ching Chen is Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle. Prior to this, he was Deputy Secretary-General of the Taiwan Council for U.S. Affairs, seconded to the Foreign Minister’s Office. D.G. Chen served as Deputy Director in the Political Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States. He also served as Section Chief in the Department of Northern American Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Republic of China (Taiwan), and was awarded the Model Civil Servant of MOFA in 2011. D.G. Chen has also served as Senior Consular Officer at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Seattle. Previously he was a platoon leader as a second lieutenant in the Army of ROC and was awarded Excellent Mandatory Service Officer in 1997. D.G Chen earned a Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) with an International Business Diplomacy (IBD) honorary certificate from Georgetown University in 2000 and was valedictorian while receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Diplomacy from National Chengchi University, Taiwan in 1995.
Karolos J. Karnikis – The National Bureau of Asian Research
Karolos J. Karnikis is Senior Vice President of Information Management and Technology at the National Bureau of Asian Research, responsible for NBR’s information security and technology infrastructure. He also participates in NBR programs, specifically serving as Technical Director for NBR’s Maritime Awareness Project. Mr. Karnikis is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional, and he holds a Master of Science in Information Resource Management from Syracuse University and a BA from Whitman College.
Denny Heck – Washington State
Denny Heck is Lieutenant Governor of Washington State. He also serves on the Advisory Committee of the Export Import Bank of the United States and the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors. Lt. Governor Heck was the first U.S. Representative from Washington’s 10th Congressional District, and has served five terms in the State House of Representatives, including as House Majority Leader. He co-founded TVW, a public affairs network providing Washington State constituents with greater access to state government. He has worked closely with small businesses, including his role as an original investor in Real Networks, one of the first Internet media streaming companies. Lt. Governor Heck graduated with a BA from Evergreen State College.
James Risch – United States Senate
James Risch is Idaho’s 28th Senator, serving on five committees including Energy and Natural Resources, Foreign Relations, and as ranking member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Before serving in the U.S. Senate, Senator Risch served as Idaho’s governor, lieutenant governor, and state senator, including in the roles of majority leader and Senate president pro tempore. Senator Risch is dedicated to smart economic development, pragmatic responses to natural resource issues, and the prosperity of businesses. Senator Risch graduated with a Juris Doctor degree and a BS in Forestry from the University of Idaho.
Suzan DelBene – United States House of Representatives
Suzan DelBene is Congresswoman for Washington’s first Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving as Vice Chair of the Ways and Means Committee and co-chair for the Women’s High-Tech coalition and the Internet of Things Caucus. Before serving in the U.S. House, Congresswoman DelBene served as Director of the Washington State Department of Revenue. Prior to this, she was a corporate vice president at Microsoft, CEO and president of the startup Nimble Technology, and original vice president of drugstore.com. Congresswoman DelBene earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington and a BA from Reed College.
Tom Robertson – Microsoft
Tom Robertson is Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Microsoft. Mr. Robertson leads the Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs team supporting the Experiences and Devices Group, responsible for Office, Windows, Microsoft Surface devices, and various other products and services. Before Microsoft, Mr. Robertson served as Associate General Counsel in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, responsible for global intellectual property issues and general trade issues with U.S. trading partners in the Asia-Pacific. Mr. Robertson earned a Juris Doctor degree and a BS from the University of Virginia. Mr. Robertson also serves as a Board Member for NBR.
Chen-Yuan Tung – Overseas Community Affairs Council
Chen-Yuan Tung is Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council of the Republic of China (Taiwan) since June 2020. Previously, he was Taiwan’s ambassador to Thailand from July 2017 until May 2020, senior advisor at the National Security Council from October 2016 until July 2017, and Spokesman of the Executive Yuan from May to September 2016. Before 2016, Mr. Tung was distinguished professor at the Graduate Institute of Development Studies, National Chengchi University (Taiwan). He received a Ph.D. in international affairs from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University. From September 2006 to May 2008, he was vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, Executive Yuan. His expertise focuses on international economy, Chinese economic development, and prediction markets.
Chen-Yu Feng – Pegatron Corporation
Chen-Yu Feng serves as the General Manager of BU6, Pegatron Corporation, where he runs networking, telecommunications, Internet of Things affairs, and the wearable devices product series. He also serves as Vice President of the 5G Smart Pole Standard Promotion Alliance, focusing on the increasing importance of the 5G networking industry. General Manager Feng has over 30 years of experience in networking and telecommunications, including his time as Vice President of ASUSTek’s broadband business unit, Senior Sales Manager at Ambit Microsystems Corporation, and Director of Acer Communications and Multimedia, Inc. He earned a Master’s in Computer Engineering, computer software engineering, and artificial intelligence from National Chiao Tung University.
Tony Yang – Industrial Technology Research Institute
Tony Yang is Technical Director of the Next Generation Communication Technology Office of the Information and Communication Research Laboratories at the Industrial Technology Research Institute. He has also served as Chief Technology Officer at VeeTime Corporation and Director of the Product and Technology Development Division at Tatung InfoCom. Before this, Technical Director Yang was Senior Manager of Product Innovation Development at Taiwan Telecom Industrial Company and Deputy Manager of the Network Device Development Department at Accton Technology Corporation. He earned a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Tatung University.
Jeffery Yan – Microsoft
Jeffrey Yan is Director of Technology Policy at Microsoft Corporation, examining disruptive technology trends with policy implications and societal impacts. He represents Microsoft in various international forums, including the ITU, IGF, IIC, and ICANN. He also co-chairs the Singapore White Space Pilot Group. Director Yan has served in several senior positions in Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division, Legal & Corporate Affairs group, and Technology Policy Group. Director Yan’s post-graduate studies focused on Software Engineering and Business Management, and he holds an honor degree in Computer Science from Dalhousie University, Canada.
Moderator
Doug Strub – The National Bureau of Asian Research
Doug Strub is Assistant Director of the National Bureau of Asian Research’s Center for Innovation, Trade, and Strategy. He manages and supports research for projects focusing on Indo-Pacific economic, trade, technology, and intellectual property policy issues. Prior to joining NBR, Mr. Strub spent five years in China working for the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, writing reports for the World Bank in Beijing, and studying Mandarin in Guilin and Wuhan. He received his MA in International Affairs from the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.