In respond to the recent warning issued by the Academia Sinica about Taiwan's talent retention, the Executive Yuan, Ministry of Education, and National Science Council, has formed a joint taskforce to focus on a new government scholarship initiative. The initiative aims at encouraging students to undertake PhD studies or post-doctoral research in universities listed top 30 in Shanghai Jiao Tung or Times Higher Education Rankings.  Starting from 2013, the initiative will provide 43 scholarships each year in areas that are of national priority, such as Information and Communications, Intelligent Electronics, Biomedical Sciences, Science and Technology Law, etc.

The initiative allows scholarship holders to stay overseas for their professional development for as long as 15 years after completion of their studies. Education Minister, Dr. Chiang, Wei-Ling commented that the initiative helps support talented students to gain international experience at world-class institutions, and the country will be able to benefit from the contribution made by these scholars when they return as well-established experts, reported United Daily News.