Introduction

　The “Industrial Heritage Website” is a platform showcasing the preliminary result of the “Research and Collection of Industrial History and Assets in Taiwan,” a collaborative project hosted by the Industrial Development Bureau in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the National Science and Technology Museum. Five key industries: semiconductors, petrochemicals, food, household appliances, and steel have been selected as the primary targets for a historic survey, object collection, oral history interviews, and digitization. The goal, through the process of research, collection and digitization, is to preserve and present the development of industrial history in Taiwan.
　This will be an ongoing project. Historic objects obtained through the aforementioned project, under the owners’ consent, will be added to the site on a regular basis. In the future, more industries will be included in the project. In addition to publishing the study result online, the industrial heritage obtained will also be made available for publication, digitalization, exhibition, and educational programs.

Project Description

　Taiwan’s industrial development promoted economic growth and national modernization, creating the so-called “Taiwan Economic Miracle.” However, the industrial changes have prompted the rapid loss of materials that attested to the industrial growth in Taiwan. It is therefore imperative to preserve these precious cultural remnants. Meanwhile, they are the best material evidence demonstrating the process and uniqueness of Taiwan’s industrial evolution. Historical materials, including physical objects, equipment, industrial products, photographs, documents, and oral histories, are the raw materials necessary for this type of research and presentation. The lack of relevant materials will result in great difficulty carrying out in-depth research and subsequent programming such as exhibition and educational activities

　Based on the importance and the pioneering status of uncovering the historical industrial materials, the Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the National Science and Technology Museum launched the “Research and Collection of Industrial History and Assets in Taiwan,” in conjunction with Phase II of the Industrial History Exhibition Hall. Five industries, including: semiconductors, petrochemicals, food, household appliances, and steel have been chosen for a series of historic research, historic artifact collection, oral history interview, and data digitization process. The core of the project is to collect and preserve a record of the history of industrial development in Taiwan; the implementation of the project has been divided into the following phases:
●2007: Historical research; historical objects collection
●2008: Oral history interview; historical objects collection
●2009: Digitization of industrial assets; online digital collection; and ongoing historical objects collection

　Ultimately, the research results will be integrated into exhibitions, education, and digital collection, presenting to the public the context and perspective of the industrial development in Taiwan. We anticipate participation by public and private enterprises, and cultural organization, to foster a perpetual process in the collection-research of important historical objects and materials attesting to the industrial growth in Taiwan.