Abstract
In order to upgrade the R&D capabilities of local enterprises, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) of Taiwan, initiated a national R&D program entitled: ‘Encouraging Domestic Company to Set up Corporate R&D Center Program’ in 2002. The purpose of the program aims to encourage local enterprises set up their corporate R&D centers in Taiwan. The government expects Taiwanese enterprises can create more radical innovation rather than incremental innovation which they used to do. However, this program had been implemented for many years. The impacts of the program on Taiwanese innovation system are understudied. This study tries to answer the following questions: (1) Do the R&D centers of local enterprises pour more resources in advanced research than before; (2) Are the goals of this program still far behind or almost achieved? This research deployed Delphi method to collect experts’ opinions in order to provide policy adjustments. Based on the Delphi exercise, the study collected experts’ opinions on the appropriateness, effectiveness, future strategy of the program. The results :(1) The program objectives were appropriate in enhancing 3% national R&D expenditure/GDP; (2) The experts highly agree this program can attract enterprises put more resources in advanced research, long-term research activities and integrating business and R&D strategies; (3) The experts think the goal of R&D intensity of 3% and number of R&D centers can be reached in 2008; (4) Public funding for R&D activities should be differential from long-term to short-term research and; (5) Providing R&D award to foster upgrading of R&D centers of local enterprises. Finally, this research suggests that launching ‘Teaching company scheme’ to bridge the gap of human resources between industry and university.