I. Program Introduction

The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) began implementing the Leaders in Future Trends (LIFT1.0) Program in 2017 in response to the global race for talent and recruitment of overseas talent. The program is aligned with the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program and Innovative Industries Initiative to respond to the demand for cutting-edge research talent across different sectors in Taiwan, as well as the expectations for overseas talent to return to Taiwan. The purpose is to call back talent studying overseas to contribute their expertise in Taiwan, and thereby stimulate industrial innovation and technological development.

On LIFT 1.0 basis, the 2019 LIFT Program (hereinafter referred to as the "Program") will establish a platform for actively matching overseas talent with domestic industries, academia, and research institutes both online and offline. The Program subsidizes round trip plane tickets and covers all meals and accommodations for overseas talent returning/going to Taiwan. The Program's participants will participate in overseas talent exchange activities, during which they will meet with domestic industries, academia, and research institutes face-to-face, helping them find employment in Taiwan.

 

II. Eligibility

1.     Applicants must be under 45 years of age (inclusive) (born after January 1, 1974).

2.     Education background or work experience (choose one):

(1)    Applicants that have a doctoral degree from a foreign university listed on the Ministry of Education Affair's "Foreign University Reference List" that fresh graduates or those with experience whose most recent paid job in the last 2 years must not be in Taiwan : Priority will be given to applicants with degrees in the top ten innovative industries. (green energy technology, biomedical industry, smart machinery, national defense and aerospace, new agriculture, circular economy, DIGI+, cultural technology, IC design, semiconductor industries, and so on.)

(2)    Applicants who have a master's degree from a foreign university listed on the Ministry of Education Affair's "Foreign University Reference List" and who have 3 years experience working in the field of artificial intelligence overseas:

3.     Domestic university doctoral degree talents do not meet the qualifications for the second point. If applicants have 3 years or more of overseas work experience and are still overseas, applicants can apply for LIFT 2.0 to return to Taiwan. However, if applicants pass the exam whose will not receive one round-trip economy class ticket subsidy only providing for accommodations, meals, and transportation will be covered during the event (the 2019 Leaders in Future Trends O2O Conference).

4.     Applicants that have received subsidies from the Ministry of Science and Technology's subsidies during the exchange period are not eligible for this program.

 

III. Application Method

1.     Please apply via the LIFT Program website and register an account and password: https://lifttaiwan.stpi.narl.org.tw

2.     The deadline for the second batch is August 23, 2019 (Friday) at 12:00 PM (Taipei time GMT+08:00). Please fill out the online application form (including education background and autobiography), and upload the following documents:

(1)    Overseas academic credentials.

(2)    Contents of the employment application form must include items that are beneficial in the review, such as:

• Experience and results of research or work in the last two years.
• The necessity and possible contribution of the applicant's expertise to Taiwan's technological development.
• Job-seeking plan in Taiwan (the scope and fields in industries/institutions the applicant hopes to find a job in).

(3)    Provide of the foreign diploma / overseas working certificate for the most recent two years or records of R.O.C. (Taiwan) entry and exit for the most recent three years up to the application deadline.

3.     Applications with incomplete or non-compliant documents and late applications will not be accepted.

 

IV. Selection Method:

The Program's selection process in 2019 is divided into a preliminary review and secondary review. Experts in related fields will be invited from industries and academia to conduct a substantive review, and interviews will be conducted via telephone or video conferencing when deemed necessary.

 

V. Leaders in Future Trends O2O Conference:

The Program will hold the 2019 Leaders in Future Trends O2O Conference in two batches in 2019. The first batch is scheduled for June 17, 2019 (Monday) to June 28, 2019 (Friday). And the second batch is scheduled for October 21, 2019(Monday) to November 1, 2019(Friday). The organizer retains the right to adjust the time of the event and announce it on the Program's website.

 

VI. List Announcement:

The selected applicants of the first batch was announced on the LIFT Program website at May 15, 2019. The selected applicants of the second batch will be announced on the website in mid-September.

 

VII. Subsidy Method and Arrangement of Accommodations:

1.     For applicants selected to participate in the 2019 Leaders in Future Trends O2O Conference in Taiwan, the Program will subsidize the plane tickets for returning/going to Taiwan to participate in the event, though this is limited to one round-trip economy class ticket for the applicant (only the air fare to Taiwan will be subsidized, please see the Program's website for subsidy regulations). Applicants must submit the electronic ticket, boarding pass, and proof of purchase for reimbursement.

2.     For applicants selected to participate in the 2019 Leaders in Future Trends O2O Conference in Taiwan, the Program will arrange professional exchange activities, visits to national development projects and domestic industries, academia, and research institutes, and also organize a talent matching event (12 days in total). Expenses for accommodations, meals, and transportation will be covered during the event, so participants will not need to pay for other expenses.

 

VIII. Rights and obligations:

1.     For those who are the selected applicants of the second batch to participate in the 2019 Leaders in Future Trends O2O Conference, if they are unable to attend the conference, they shall be demand to have waived any claim or right of subsidy they might have.

2.     Selected applicants must sign the LIFT Program agreement with the Program Office within one month after the date of announcement, and must complete registration at the 2019 Leaders in Future Trends O2O Conference during the specified date. Applicants will be deemed as abandoning all rights in the Program if they do not complete contract signing or registration.

3.     When participating in the 2019 Leaders in Future Trends O2O Conference in Taiwan, participants shall take part in the full course of all exchange activities. If participants do not participate in the full course of activities, their return ticket will not be reimbursed. During the exchange event in Taiwan, if a participant is hired by a company or academic or research institute, the participant will still be eligible to apply for the full amount of plane ticket subsidies by providing proof of employment, despite not participating in the full course of exchange activities.

4.     If a participant is hired by a company or academic or research institute during the exchange period in Taiwan, the participant shall notify the LIFT Program Office and provide proof of employment. The participant will not be required to participate in subsequent exchange activities after gaining approval from the Program Office.

5.     If participant violates any laws during the exchange period in Taiwan, already has a full time position in Taiwan before returning to Taiwan, or engages in any other uncooperative actions, we will retain the right to terminate the contract.

6.     Upon the expiry or early termination of the exchange period, the participant shall submit a report in accordance with the agreement, and shall cooperate with telephone or written surveys of the Program for two years after receiving subsidies, so that the results of the Program may be tracked.

 

IX. Other important notes:

1. Any matters not specified in this announcement may be revised and announced at any time or handled according to the contract and other relevant regulations.

2. Contact Information of the LIFT Program Office

Hotline: +886-2-2737-7956 Mr. Lin; +886-2-2737-7746 Miss. Lin

Email:lift@stpi.narl.org.tw