Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy

Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy (TAISE; Chinese: 台灣永續能源研究基金會; pinyin: Táiwān yǒng xù néngyuán yánjiū jījīn huì) is a Taiwanese non-profit foundation established in October 2007. Based in Taipei, TAISE promotes sustainable energy, climate action, and the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through policy advocacy, education, research, and multi-sectoral collaboration. It organizes major events including SDG Asia and the Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards, and plays a central role in Taiwan's ESG and net-zero efforts.^[1]

TAISE was officially founded on 31 October 2007, following an initiative by sustainable energy advocates and financial supporters. The institute was established to act as a “sustainable accelerator”—bringing together government, industry, academia, and civil society to advance Taiwan's transition to sustainable development, focusing on SDGs, climate change, energy, and biodiversity.

Since then, TAISE has expanded its mission beyond energy to a broader environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agenda. In addition to its founding SDG-related programs, TAISE now organizes key events like the Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards (TCSA), SDG Asia expo, and regional sustainability forums.^[2]

TAISE organizes SDG Asia, an annual expo and forum launched in 2022 to promote sustainable development, ESG strategies, and net-zero pathways across the Asia-Pacific. The event combines exhibitions, summits, workshops, and the Asia-Pacific Sustainability Action Awards. The fourth edition (2025) is scheduled for 11–13 September and anticipates over 50,000 visitors.^[3][4]

TAISE has organized the Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards (TCSA) since 2008 to recognize excellence in corporate sustainability and reporting in Taiwan. It has become a premier benchmark—often referred to as “the Oscars of sustainability”—with a record 882 participating companies in 2024.^[5][6][7]

TAISE also organizes the Asia-Pacific Sustainability Action Awards (APSAA)—an expanded regional awards program recognizing excellence in SDG implementation, livable city creation, and sustainability leadership among CSOs and executives. The 4th APSAA is being held in 2024.^[8]

TAISE also administers the Global Corporate Sustainability Award (GCSA) recognizing reporting transparency and sustainability practice excellence internationally.^[9]

The institute hosts the Global Corporate Sustainability Forum (GCSF), the Taiwan Sustainable Investment Forum, and other themed workshops and conferences in fields including sustainability reporting, sustainable finance, and net-zero transition. It also provides training, publishes research, and drives policy advocacy.^[10][11]

Since its founding, Eugene Chien has served as Chairman of TAISE. He is also Taiwan's Ambassador-at-Large for Climate and Sustainability and has held senior government positions. He is widely credited with advancing Taiwan's sustainability ecosystem through advocacy and international engagement.^[12][13]

As TAISE grows, it faces several challenges common to sustainability-focused non-profits:

• Cross-sector coordination: Mobilizing concrete action across government, businesses, academia, and civil society remains complex.^[14]
• Resource constraints: Scaling expos, forums, awards, and training requires sustainable funding and staff resources.^[15]
• Impact validation: Ensuring programs effect measurable change—beyond visibility—such as improved ESG performance or emissions reduction.
• Regional positioning: As Taiwan's international presence is geopolitically constrained, expanding regional influence requires agile diplomacy.

Looking ahead, TAISE aims to deepen its role in net-zero transition, sustainable finance, capacity building, and international collaboration, reinforcing its status as a sustainability hub in the Asia-Pacific.^[16]

• Sustainable Development Goals
• Environmental, social and corporate governance
• Eugene Chien
• SDG Asia