Position Available – Business Planning Assistant (BPA)

Academia Sinica is now recruiting well qualified candidates for six-month half-time appointment as Business Planning Assistants to work with the Foresight Taiwan project in the Institute of Information Science.

Background

Foresight Taiwan is a forward planning project in science and technology (S&T) funded by the National Science Council (NSC). One of its tasks is to provide oversight for an NSC funding program known as “germination.”

Germination is intended to develop early stage technologies into businesses. Five university based projects have been identified as candidates for germination. Being early stage, the technologies involved are only slightly removed from the scientific discoveries on which they are based. At this point the business vision is far from clear. The initial step in the germination process is to clarify that vision and to craft a cogent business plan for the realization of that vision. The successful candidates will play an important role in this initial step.

Job Description

The BPA will be assigned to teams of two or three and each team is assigned to one of the five identified projects. Working under supervision, they will learn the essentials of the technology and generate product alternatives and develop associated business models. These models will then be analyzed and compared, so that a rational choice can be made. An executable business plan will then be prepared. The process is expected to take six months and with the major decisions being made in the first four months.

Qualification

The minimum qualification for the position is a bachelor’s degree in engineering or business management. Work experience and current enrollment in a management degree program would be highly desirable additional attributes. Applications will be initially reviewed for relevant qualifications and the finalists will be interviewed before a final selection is made.

Application

Interested applicants should send relevant documents to Foresight Taiwan Program Office. (e-mail: foresight@iis.sinica.edu.tw )
To receive full consideration, please complete the application before December 19, 2008.