BERKELEY, CA - The Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS) at the University of California, Berkeley, is proud to announce the selection of the third cohort for the newly expanded U.S.-Taiwan-European Next Generation Working Group. Supported by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in San Francisco, this three-year program (2026–2028) identifies and nurtures a new generation of experts focused on the critical trilateral relationship between the U.S., Taiwan, and Europe.
Building on the success of previous iterations, the third cohort officially welcomes European participants for the first time, reflecting Taiwan’s strategic importance on the global stage. The ten selected specialists - comprising mid-career scholars and public policy professionals - will participate in a series of intensive workshops and high-level meetings in Taipei (2026), Europe (2027), and Washington, D.C. (2028).
"We are thrilled to launch a third, expanded cohort of the Working Group," said Professor Shelley Rigger, Senior Advisor to the program. "By fostering a growing community of American and European experts, we aim to facilitate vigorous dialogue and support research on topics of immediate concern in ways that strengthen U.S.-Taiwan-European coordination in global affairs."
Participants will receive mentorship from distinguished Senior Advisors, including Thomas B. Gold (UC Berkeley), Shelley Rigger (Davidson College), and Chun-yi Lee (University of Nottingham). In addition to field research, members will undergo comprehensive media training to help communicate their expertise to a global audience.
Contact: Institute of East Asian Studies UC Berkeley, Ms. Skye VanValkenburgh, Program Coordinator. ieas-taiwan@berkeley.edu
January 7, 2026