Cloud computing center set for Taipei opening in March

 Publication Date：02/06/2012  Source： Taiwan Today A cloud computing center to promote exchange of expertise, creative research applications and public-private cooperation is set to begin operations by the end of the month, according to the Cloud Computing Association in Taiwan Feb. 6. Located in Taipei, the center, over 330 square meters in area, includes a cloud computing education classroom and an area for business sessions, the CCAT said. It will serve to focus private sector assistance to the government in initiating cloud-based services in health care and medicine, public transportation and disaster relief. Other functions of the center will include application testing and creativity incubation, the association said. Founded in November 2010, the CCAT is made up of government-sponsored entities such as the Industrial Technology Research Institute and the Institute for Information Industry. Its membership also includes high-tech companies such as laptop maker Asustek Computer Inc., Taiwan's largest Internet operator Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd. and original design manufacturer for information communications technology products Wistron Corp., according to the CCAT. The CCAT move comes after ROC President Ma Ying-jeou named Simon Chang, a former executive for Google Inc.'s Asia-Pacific hardware operations, as a new minister without portfolio. After a 30-minute interview with Ma Feb. 5, Chang told the media he is tasked with upgrading the country's ICT industry, in which cloud computing is a pivotal part. Integration between government and business will be key to developing cloud computing, he said. (THN)