To help government agencies develop data management and application capabilities and understand data empowerment and innovation trends, the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) held the two-day Data Empowerment and Innovation Conference at the GIS MOTC Convention Center. The conference gathered International experts, scholars, and industry professionals to discuss topics such as Global Trends in Data Management, Data Innovation for Digital Transformation, and Privacy-Enhancing Technology Applications. The conference focused on the latest international developments and trends in data management, promoting data-driven innovation in public digital services.

Deputy Minister Ning Yeh emphasized that we are in a data-driven era where AI applications are flourishing. The solid foundation of proper data management makes these diverse AI applications possible. The MODA aims to guide public sectors in gradually improving their data management measures to achieve maximum efficiency as Taiwan promotes AI policies in the future. Deputy Minister Yeh emphasized that data management is like a city’s sewerage system, highlighting the need for proactive planning and governance to maximize the benefits of data innovation.

MODA invited several international experts to discuss global trends at the conference, including Director Sujung Kim from South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and Dr. Arif Wider from the Berlin University of Applied Sciences and Technology (HTW Berlin).  Dr. Kim shares insights on South Korea’s data strategies in response to an AI-driven future, discussing planning and practical execution. Dr. Wider explained the foundations of data governance through data platform trends. The conference also invited Jeremy Liu, Assistant Vice President of Cathay Financial Holdings, to share the evolution of data-sharing strategies in the financial sector; Chen-Kuo Chiang, Associate Professor from National Chung Cheng University, shared their experience in data management within smart cities and monitoring centers from local governments. Li-Wei Yang, General Manager of eLAND, provided recommendations on evidence-based governance and smart disaster prevention from an industry perspective.

The second day of the conference focused on practical applications of Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) with Associate Professor Chia-Mu Yu from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University presenting the latest international trends in privacy-enhancing technologies. Wen-Chang Wang, Assistant Manager of the Small & Medium Enterprise Credit Guarantee Fund of Taiwan, and Researcher at the National Institute of Cyber Security  Wei-Ran Ke shared practical experiences in leveraging data privacy risks with the need for data utilization through synthetic data technology. Qiu-Rong Kao, Assistant Vice President of Cathay United Bank’s Data Ecosystem Operations Department, discussed their participation in a fintech innovation park initiative, demonstrating how collaborative learning mechanisms can protect sensitive data while preventing fraud. The initiative, evaluated in partnership with the National Institute of Cyber Security, has proven effective in enhancing cross-sector data collaboration security.

The conference also explained the draft of the Technical Framework for Data Empowerment Management. The MODA stated that to help the public sector develop data management and application capabilities, it referenced multiple international data management standards and best practices and drafted a technical framework incorporating emerging data management technologies to provide actionable guidelines. MODA hopes that government agencies can easily manage, access, and analyze data within increasingly complex information systems and storage environments with the instructions of the framework. The Framework will help establish a high-quality, stable data management foundation, increase value, and accelerate innovative data applications.