Newsletter
QUOTAS RAISED FOR MAINLAND R&D PERSONNEL
The MOEA recently announced the Rules for Approval for Persons from the Mainland Area Skilled in Industrial Technologies to Engage in Scientific and Technical Activities in Taiwan. The rules provide that where businesses and private organizations invite technical personnel from mainland China to take part in long-term research and development or technical guidance activities in Taiwan, the total number of such persons must not exceed 10% of the enterprise's R&D personnel, or 20% in the case of a major investment program with a value of at least NT$200 million, or a program to develop new technology involving investment of at least NT$50 million over three years.
The MOEA stated that public and private enter-prises and private organizations wishing to invite mainland technical personnel to Taiwan must satisfy certain qualifying criteria. For instance, a manufacturing enterprise must have paid-up capital or annual turnover of at least NT$30 million, and a technical service enterprise at least NT$15 million; while an industrial association or other organization must have its own R&D es-tablishment or R&D capability.
The MOEA also stated that in principle, ap-provals for mainland personnel to work in R&D in Taiwan would be limited to IT services, and the following 18 emerging manufacturing sec-tors: semiconductors, biotechnology, consumer electronics, specialty chemicals, special alloy materials, aerospace, high-performance plastic and rubber materials, high-grade fiber materials, IT software, telecommunications, IT hardware, electronic materials, precision structural ceramic materials, precision machinery and automation, pharmaceuticals manufacture, high-performance composite materials, environmental protection, and healthcare. But permission may be granted in other cases where the competent authorities determine that there is genuine need in order to upgrade industrial technology in the sector con-cerned.