The ICL is poised for rapid growth in the years ahead thanks to the strong foundation it established in the 1990s. The ICL is devoted to establishing fundamental technologies required by Taiwan's 3C industry, and aims to bolster Taiwan's competitiveness in the areas of computers, communications and consumer electronics.

The service sector is an increasingly important growth engine in advanced nations. On Taiwan, for example, the service sector in 2005 accounted for over 70% of GDP. Taiwan already possesses impressive prowess in information technology after 30 years of intensive development. How to best utilize this technology in creating IT enabled service (ITeS) industry will be a critical factor in the next stage of industrial development.

The ICL realizes this trend and is focusing its efforts in the area of ITeS, employing its research and technological achievements in four key areas to meet future needs. The ICL's research R&D centers on All-IP networking and services, broadband wireless communications, products used in mobile digital life, and wireless sensor networks. The ICL emphasizes Web 2.0 concepts in its planning and research, and it utilizes service oriented architecture to ensure that its innovations can be swiftly commercialized to full potential.

The R&D programs are guided with an aim to leverage the S3C business synergy and technology convergence, namely 3S for service, system and software, and 3C for computing, communications and consumer electronics. The ICL's strategic planning is as follows:

■ To develop innovative embedded software, systems technology and products that complement Taiwan's existing competitive advantages in the client-end product industry.
■ To develop access-side communications systems and services, and to provide an important contribution in drafting international networks and communications standards.
■ To strengthen development of multimedia and communications applications system software technology.
■ To participate in the establishment of major national information and communications platforms to bolster development of emerging service industries. One such example is the M-Taiwan National Development Program.

The ICL aims to meet the developmental needs of forward-looking industries. It works in tandem with the government's industrial policies, focusing on the creation of core technologies and nurturing a pool of highly skilled engineers that will create IP value. It will also integrate resources among the industrial, academic and research sectors and pursue international collaboration. Its goal is to help lead Taiwan's ICT sector in adopting next-generation technology and to raise the competitiveness of Taiwan's 3C industry.