Marking a world-leading breakthrough in bio-energy research, Academia Sinica President James Liao was awarded the Samson-Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation in Alternative Energy and Smart Mobility for Transportation in February of 2021. The ceremony took place in Tel Aviv last November, with President Liao attending virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 2, the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei (ISECO) celebrated the honor with him, with Representative Omer Caspi conferring the award on behalf of the Israeli Prime Minister.

President Liao’s recent research largely focused on combining biology and chemistry to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In particular, by redesigning the metabolic pathways that transform greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into fuel or chemical products, his research allows for more efficient use of carbon energy. President Liao hopes that scientific research will move us closer to a future with net zero carbon emissions.

In Representative Caspi’s speech, he said that the Samson-Prime Minister’s Prize is the most prestigious award in alternative energy and smart transportation, and he is honored to be conferring the award on behalf of the Prime Minister. Attendees to the warm and intimate celebration include Ministry of Science and Technology Minister Tsung-Tsong Wu, Ministry of Economic Affairs Minister Mei-Hua Wang, executive officers from Academia Sinica such as Vice Presidents Mei-Yin Chou, Fu-Tong Liu, and Chin-shing Huang, as well as ISECO Director of Public Affairs, Galit Cohen Caspi, wife of Representative Caspi.

Left: Omer Caspi, Representative of Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei
Right: James Liao, President of Academia Sinica