Over the past few decades, the waves of globalization and deepening regional integration have increasingly intertwined Taiwan, East Asia, and global development, forging a highly interactive and interdependent network. From historical cultural exchanges and economic cooperation to contemporary technological collaboration and regional governance, Taiwan and East Asian countries have developed a multifaceted and multilayered pattern of interaction. Despite significant differences in political systems, economic structures, and social development pathways within the region, shared historical and cultural roots, geopolitical influences, complementary industrial chains, and common challenges such as climate change and societal transformation underscore the urgent need to deepen cross-disciplinary cooperation and dialogue.
However, recent dramatic shifts in the international environment have introduced new challenges and opportunities to this network. The reconfiguration of political and economic relations led by the United States has driven globalization toward fragmentation and partial reversal, heightening risks of regional economic protectionism and supply chain disruptions. Furthermore, escalating U.S.-China strategic competition, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on the global order, and the rapid advancement of the Indo-Pacific strategic framework have made East Asia’s security and economic landscape increasingly complex. Against this backdrop, how Taiwan and East Asian countries can seek new models of regional cooperation amid a turbulent international order, while maintaining competitive advantages and developmental resilience in the face of global upheaval, has emerged as a critical issue demanding exploration.
In light of this, the 17th Annual Conference on Development Studies adopts the theme “Taiwan, East Asia, and Their Networks from a Development Perspective: Interdisciplinary Dialogues.” This conference aims to transcend disciplinary boundaries and examine the development trajectories of Taiwan and East Asia, as well as their interconnections, from diverse perspectives. It places special emphasis on the intensifying global environmental crises—such as the impact of extreme weather on economic stability and social well-being—and explores how technological innovation and sustainable development strategies can mitigate environmental risks and achieve regional co-prosperity. Simultaneously, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) presents East Asia with unprecedented opportunities and challenges. How to leverage AI to drive economic transformation and social progress while addressing issues like the digital divide, data privacy, and ethical controversies is also a core focus of this conference.
Beyond academic research, this conference seeks to establish a dialogue platform that integrates international perspectives with local practices, bringing together scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders to foster knowledge exchange, experience sharing, and policy innovation. We hope that through cross-disciplinary academic exploration and practical dialogue, we can cultivate talent equipped with global vision and regional insight, thereby enhancing East Asia’s overall development potential. At the same time, the conference is committed to generating profound impacts at both regional and international levels, injecting new momentum into East Asia’s future cooperation agenda and contributing unique East Asian perspectives and solutions to global challenges. This annual conference cordially invites scholars and graduate students from various academic disciplines to submit papers on the following themes related to development studies, and to participate in the discussions together.
Topics
Ø Historical and Cultural Exchanges between Taiwan and East Asia：This sub-theme focuses on the historical cultural exchanges and mutual influences between Taiwan and East Asian countries, exploring how these historical networks have laid the foundation for contemporary cultural identity and regional cooperation, while offering insights for future interactions.
Ø Economic Integration and Regional Industrial Chain Restructuring：Against the backdrop of a reshaping global economic order, this sub-theme analyzes the transformation trends of industrial chains in Taiwan and around the world, examining how enhancing supply chain resilience and industrial upgrading strategies can strengthen the region’s overall competitiveness.
Ø Regional Technological Cooperation and Innovation Ecosystems：This sub-theme highlights the strategic importance of technological cooperation in global development, exploring how cross-border collaboration and resource sharing can build competitive innovation ecosystems to address globalization challenges.
Ø Regional Governance and International Cooperation Mechanisms：This sub-theme examines the current state and challenges of regional governance, exploring Taiwan’s role in regional and international cooperation and proposing more inclusive and sustainable governance models.
Ø Sustainable Development and Environmental Governance Challenges：In the face of climate change and environmental crises, this sub-theme explores how countries in the world can promote green transformation and sustainable development through policy coordination and transnational cooperation, while sharing best practice cases.
Ø Population Changes and Social Development Trends：This sub-theme analyzes the impacts of population aging, declining birth rates, and cross-border migration on the international societies, exploring response strategies and possibilities for social innovation to address challenges arising from demographic shifts.
Ø Urban Networks and Cross-Border Metropolitan Governance：This sub-theme focuses on the formation and governance challenges of cross-border urban networks, examining how inter-city collaboration can address urbanization and regional development issues to create resilient urban ecosystems.
Ø Opportunities and Challenges in the AI Era：This sub-theme explores the dual impacts of the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the world, analyzing how AI can drive economic transformation and enhance social well-being while addressing challenges such as the digital divide, employment structure changes, and ethical risks. Through cross-national case studies and policy comparisons, it examines how a region can achieve inclusive growth and balance technological governance in the AI era.
Ø Heritage Conservation and New Visions for Local Revitalization：This sub-theme focuses on conservation strategies for cultural and natural heritage in the region, exploring how integrating local revitalization concepts can activate traditional resources and promote sustainable development. By analyzing new approaches such as heritage tourism, community engagement, and digital technology applications, it considers how heritage conservation can unlock potential for local economic and cultural revitalization.
Ø Regional Literature and the Construction of Cultural Narratives：Through the lens of literary and cultural creations in the region, this sub-theme explores the processes of shaping collective memory and diverse identities, analyzing how cultural narratives can foster mutual understanding and cooperative visions across the region.
Ø Self-organized Panels on Other Related Topics：Panels self-organized on other topics related to development research.
Submission and Review
A. Submission of abstract – 2025/06/30
B. Notification of acceptance – 2025/07/15
C. Submission of complete papers – 2025/10/20
D. Best Paper Awards Participant – 2025/09/30
Date & Venue of Conference
TIME：2025/11/8~2025/11/9
Location：National Taiwan Normal University
Contact Information / Link
E-mail：tads2025.tw@gmail.com
Homepage：http://tads.nccu.edu.tw/app/super_pages.php?ID=meeting201