Academia Sinica Holds Leadership Handover Ceremony: Chen Chien-jen to Lead Taiwan's Premier Research Hub

Academia Sinica held a ceremony on June 18 to mark the transition of its presidency. Former Vice President Chen Chien-jen will take over as the 13th President for a term starting June 21, 2026, and ending June 20, 2031. Under the supervision of Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, James C. Liao handed over the official seal to Chen. The event was attended by distinguished guests including former President Tsai Ing-wen and former Academy President Lee Yuan-tseh.

In her emotional address, Tsai Ing-wen highlighted the profound achievements of Academia Sinica under Liao’s ten-year leadership. She noted the academy's pivotal roles in world-class research, such as contributing to the first image of a black hole and the self-reliant development of a 20-qubit superconducting quantum chip. Tsai emphasized that the 2024 opening of the Southern Campus successfully rooted national research capabilities in southern Taiwan, bridging basic science with regional development.

Tsai expressed deep gratitude and a sense of debt to Liao, jokingly noting his many grey hairs after a decade of service, and hoped for his continued involvement in Taiwanese society. Regarding Chen Chien-jen, Tsai praised his combination of scholarly rigor and public servant resilience, qualities he demonstrated as Vice President and Premier. She expressed confidence that Chen’s 'gentle yet firm' leadership would guide the academy in providing expert foresight on AI ethics, climate change, and geopolitical complexities.