Nantou County Craft Research Training Program (1954–1959)

The National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute originated in 1954 from the ‘Nantou County Craft Research Training Program’. In cooperation with the 1953 ‘Taiwan four-year economic development plan’ to implement the national policy of ‘cultivating industry with agriculture and developing agriculture with industry’, Yen Shui–Long (1903–1997), known as the father of Taiwan crafts, established the Nantou County Craft Research Training Program in Caotun. There were seven training subjects including bamboo craft, woodworking, lathing, sculpting, rattan craft, ceramics, and weaving. At the time it was the only institution in the country to cultivate craft practitioners and was a pioneer in the development of Taiwan’s local crafts industry.

Nantou County Craft Research Training Program (1954–1959)

Nantou County Handicraft Craft Research & Training Institute (1959–1973) Around 1956, the Nantou County Craft Research Training Program in cooperation with the ‘Taiwan Handicraft Promotion Center’, an organization that unified Taiwan’s craft industry, were tasked to promote craft training. In July 1959 this was reorganized into the ‘Nantou County Craft Research Institute, and was the country’s only craft research and training institute. From 1965 to 1970, in response to the government’s policy of ‘mastering one skill, is a worry-free life’, awarded young people to receive technical training and has produced many outstanding craft artisans for Taiwan’s society.

Taiwan Provincial Handicraft Research Institute (1973–1999)

In 1972, in order to establish wealth equality, the government proposed the ‘Shiao Kang Plan’ (poverty prevention plan) and ‘wealth increase’ policies, while advocating for ‘the living room is the factory’ measure. It was the heyday of Taiwan’s export trade and various handicrafts sold well in Europe, the United States of America, Japan and other countries. However, due to a lack of research, improvement and innovative design, the domestic handicraft industry was limited to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) production – the industrial development crisis of earning meager profits with cheap labor. In order to improve research and development standards of Taiwan’s handicraft technology, in 1973 the Nantou County Handicraft Craft Research & Training Institute was restructured into the ‘Taiwan Provincial Handicraft Research Institute’, affiliated with the Department of Construction, Taiwan Provincial Government, a tier-three agency responsible for assisting the strengthening of industry research and development, improving quality and enhancing competitive exports.

National Taiwan Craft Research Institute (1999–2010)

In line with the ‘refinement of province’ national policy, major changes took place in the Taiwan government’s organizational system. On July 1st 1999, the Taiwan Handicraft Research Institute was transferred to the Council for Cultural Affairs of the Executive Yuan, and was promoted to a national institution, renamed the ‘National Taiwan Craft Research Institute’. During this period, the National Taiwan Craft Research Institute followed the Council for Cultural Affairs’ policy direction of ‘cultural industrialization and industrial culturalization', cooperating with the cultural and creative industry development strategy of the Executive Yuan’s national key development plan. The aim was to cultivate cultural creators, improve the environment for cultural and creative industry development, and promote industrial upgrading though craft culture. Taiwan’s craft industry had become a key role in the new cultural and creative economy.

National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (2010–)

In response to the transformation of Taiwan's craft culture industry towards a creative value-added industry, the National Taiwan Craft Research Institute was reorganized into the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI) in 2010. In 2012, the Council for Cultural Affairs was upgraded to the Ministry of Culture, and the NTCRI became affiliated with the Ministry. It continues to strive for the advancement of Taiwan's craft industry, promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration, balancing cultural heritage and innovation, guiding traditional craft knowledge and practice, and integrating modern innovative design and new technologies. It embraces natural and humanistic spirit, incorporates creative elements, and strengthens cross-disciplinary cooperation, creating a vibrant, harmonious, and ever-evolving Taiwanese craft ecosystem.