We are pleased to announce the publication of the policy paper Chip Diplomacy Beyond Industry: Culture, Trust and Czechia–Taiwan Relations by one of our researchers, Dr. Eliška Tomalová from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

This policy paper examines how Czechia can strategically connect semiconductor cooperation (“chip diplomacy”) with public and cultural diplomacy in its relationship with Taiwan. It argues that semiconductors are not only a matter of industrial policy and supply chain resilience, but also of trust-building, reputation, and long-term partnership formation. By aligning cultural diplomacy instruments—particularly through the Czech Centres network and the newly established Czech Centre Taipei (2024)— with national branding and innovation priorities, Czechia can strengthen its position as a reliable and creative partner in Taiwan’s high-technology ecosystem. The paper highlights the importance of local engagement, focusing on Hsinchu as Taiwan’s semiconductor hub, where cultural initiatives such as glassmaking collaborations can symbolically and practically link Czech cultural heritage with technological cooperation. It concludes with policy recommendations aimed at integrating 3 cultural diplomacy into broader strategic frameworks, enhancing institutional coordination, and fostering sustainable, cross-sectoral partnerships in Czech–Taiwan relations.

Dr. Eliška Tomalová is Head of the Department of European Studies at Charles University in Prague, where she also directs the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Programme European Politics and Society. Her research explores the evolving practices of diplomacy—public, cultural, and science diplomacy—as well as intercultural relations. She has held research appointments in the Czech Republic, France, and the United States, and has contributed to international projects including the Horizon 2020 initiative Using Science for/in Diplomacy for Addressing Global Challenges (S4D4C). In addition to her academic work, E. Tomalová collaborates with NGOs and the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, providing expertise on cultural diplomacy and state branding.

This policy paper is avaible on our website here in the section titled “Policy Papers.”