Taiwan has been chosen for the International Peace Foundation’s (IPF) next BRIDGES dialogues, a major international event series that brings Nobel Laureates to different parts of the world to conduct joint research programs and education initiatives. The announcement was made after President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with IPF Chairman Uwe Morawetz and National Taiwan University President Chen Wen-chang (陳文章) on Monday.
The IPF first launched BRIDGES in 2003 in Thailand, where they partnered with local universities and other institutions to invite 26 Nobel Laureates to give speeches in various parts of the country. The project has since held more than 800 events throughout countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and will come to Taiwan in collaboration with National Taiwan University.
Morawetz explains that Taiwan’s BRIDGES project will last from November 2025 to April 2026 and feature six visiting Nobel Laureates in physics, medicine, chemistry, and economics. He says he hopes the event will demonstrate that Taiwan promotes peace and is an important pillar of world security, as well as highlight its leading role in technology, entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability. Morawetz invites Lai to serve as his honorary chairman for Taiwan, as leaders of other participating countries have done.
President Lai points out that apart from enabling cultural exchange through the BRIDGES event series, the International Peace Foundation has done much to assist governments, the European Union, and the United Nations in conducting peaceful dialogues. He thanks Morawetz for choosing Taiwan and expresses his belief that the event will not only benefit students but also deepen Taiwan’s connection to the world and enhance its global influence.