The IEKTopics 2023, titled “Moving Forward 2035: 10 Mega Trends to Reshape Our World”, was published by the Industry, Science, and Technology International Strategy Center (ISTI) to commemorate ITRI’s 50th anniversary. This special edition unveils Taiwan’s top 10 mega trends for 2035, which include Digital Empowerment, Phygital World, Mobility Revolution, Successful Aging, Health Evolution, Decarbonized Energy, Low-Carbon Lifestyle, Resource Circulation, Agile Governance, and Resilient Urban and Rural Areas. Along with this report is a study of Taiwan’s Cross-Generational Portrait of Lifestyles in 2035, which was based on a survey targeting Taiwanese citizens aged 18 to 69 on their expectations of and priorities for 20 scenarios associated with these mega trends. A surprising finding was that Comprehensive Disaster Prevention—a topic less highlighted by the media and industry—ranked highest in both anticipation (92.6%) and perceived importance (94.9%) among the respondents. Other highly valued scenarios included Energy Self-Sufficiency (90.3%), Strong Information Security (89.4%), and Agile Manufacturing (79.6%). These results underscore a strong public expectation for building a resilient, future-ready society in Taiwan.
In light of the 10 mega trends, 2035 Technology Strategy and Roadmap has been expanded by the addition of “Resilient Society” to the existing fields of Smart Living, which promotes high-quality living and lifestyle enhancement; Quality Health, ensuring accessible, affordable healthcare; and Sustainable Environment, which supports a low-carbon, energy-efficient, circular economy. The strategy underscores ITRI’s commitment to developing a society capable of withstanding various challenges. With its forward-looking technological planning, ability to bolster integration capabilities and reinforce infrastructure resilience, ITRI will enable industries to manage risks more effectively. A resilient society will serve as the foundation for sustaining business growth and the pillar of Taiwan’s long-term sustainable development.
As a leading think tank driving Taiwan’s industrial advancement, ISTI has broadened its views in the IEKTopics 2024 - Resilience in Action: Technology Enables a Sustainable Taiwan. This new edition highlights ITRI’s technological prowess and underscores the vital role of technologies in building social resilience. It aims to help Taiwan convert challenges into opportunities, fostering sustainable development amid global uncertainties. IEKTopics 2024 consolidates years of ITRI’s research and offers practical guidance on strengthening resilience and promoting a sustainable society through technological advancement.
Since 2013, ISTI has been committed to advancing industrial research in Taiwan. Each year, ISTI compiles the expertise of its own industry analysts, along with insights from ITRI and specialists across various sectors, to produce IEKTopics. This annual publication explores critical industrial and technological issues expected to shape Taiwan over the ensuing five years, providing stakeholders with insights to stay ahead of emerging trends. Past editions have covered a wide array of influential topics, including:
- 2023: Moving Forward 2035: 10 Mega Trends to Reshape Our World
- 2022: 2022 People Behavior Study in Taiwan for Net-Zero Sustainability
- 2021: International Linkage: Resilient for Co-Innovation, Sustainable for Co-Prosperity
- 2020: Resilient Ecosystem: Cross-domain Value Creation and Talent for Pilot
- 2019: Ecosystem Creation: Science-Technology Value-added to Converging Services
- 2018: 2030 Advanced Technology from an Asian Perspective
- 2017: Sustainability: Circular Regeneration for Innovation Economy
- 2016: Solve Problem: Smart Innovation, Happy City
- 2015: Driving IoT at Full Steam for First-Mover Advantages
- 2014: Triumph in Future: Envision Lifestyle to Lead Innovation
- 2013: Rally to Victory: Advanced Manufacturing as New Power for Taiwan
Resilience Drives Taiwan Forward
The key element of a resilient society lies in the capability to provide early warnings, withstand, absorb, and adapt to external shocks, and swiftly recover from challenges. For Taiwan, resilience is essential—whether in responding to immediate natural disasters, pandemic impacts, or long-term issues like demographic shifts and energy security. Strengthening resilience through technological solutions and innovative strategies is crucial for fostering economic recovery, supporting sustainable development, and ensuring societal stability.
Technology Advancements Update the Resilience Roadmap
IEKTopics 2024 features 13 articles covering 10 key topics that delve into strategies for enhancing social resilience. This publication offers a comprehensive analysis, drawing from domestic and international benchmarks in technology policy and practical applications. Key topics include disaster prevention and response, industrial supply chain resilience, AI and GAI-driven cybersecurity, transportation infrastructure, energy supply assurance, and healthcare resilience.
In line with ITRI’s 2035 Technology Strategy and Roadmap, IEKTopics 2024 spotlights “Resilient Society”, presenting innovative R&D and applications across three sub-domains: Infrastructure Resilience, Resource & Energy Resilience, and Productivity Resilience. ITRI’s efforts in strengthening Taiwan’s resilient society are manifested via its action plans such as advanced solutions for communication and power grid infrastructure, securing essential materials, ensuring water resource stability, and enhancing productivity with robotics.
The publication also envisions a resilient society achieved through strategies of diversification, decentralization, and substitution. It outlines a forward-looking blueprint centered on digital, intelligent, and autonomous innovative technology solutions.
Conclusion
Building a resilient society is a long-term, complex undertaking. Through IEKTopics 2024, ISTI offers a comprehensive approach to attain this goal. The cover image symbolizes an impenetrable yet adaptable wall of protection built with technological solutions. Together, we can foster a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for Taiwan’s industries.
