政府資訊化作業從1980年底展開，經過多年的努力，自2001年獲得世界市場研究中心各國電子化政府評比全球第二後，連續於2002年、2004年、2005年被美國布朗大學公共行政中心評比為「政府服務電子化資訊完備度」世界第一；2005年由「世界經濟論壇」發表「全球競爭力排名」中的「電子化政府指標」，台灣則排名第五。
直至今日，台灣電子化政府仍獲好評。回顧這些亮麗的成績，確實應對已故總統府資政李國鼎先生等財經首長致上最高的敬意，基於他們對資訊工業的關心與持續投入，民眾才得以享用今日資訊化所帶來的便捷。
為推動台灣資訊工業發展，李國鼎先生促成政府與業界共同成立資策會，向政府及工業界提出發展資訊工業之建言，協助政府擬定短中長期發展計畫，及對政府、公共事業及工業界提供服務，建立完備的資訊系統。
在此任務使命下，資策會協助政府規劃第一個政府資訊化系統：銀行自動化，建立國人自行建置自動化資訊系統工程的經驗與能力，涵蓋的單位包括全國25個直轄市、縣（市）約800個戶役政單位，從過去的人工作業，全面轉換成資訊化作業，此舉奠定了整合全國人口資料庫的基礎，亦成為政府行政資訊系統的標竿，尤其值得一書的是，資策會在協助政府建立大型資訊系統的同時，也培植了國內軟體業者承接大型系統的能量。而這一套系統，更獲得來台取經的他國訪客一致的讚賞。
隨著台灣資訊產業日益壯大，資策會的角色功能也隨之調整。近年來，資策會以推動國際合作、加強中南部資訊應用推廣以及強化數位創意和資通訊服務產業發展為重點工作方向。時值資策會29週年慶期間，本期封面故事以「台灣資訊化社會的推手」為題，邀請一路以來，參與台灣資訊化發展過程的各界菁英，分享資策會協助政府規劃建置資訊系統的親身經驗。
E-Government involves the use of informat ion and communications technology (ICT) by the public sector to create an integrated network environment. Operations that in the past had to be performed manually are computerized and brought online; the general public can enjoy the convenience, speed and other benefits that e-government brings wherever and whenever they need it.
The computerization of public administration in Taiwan began in late 1980. After years of hard work, by 2001 Taiwan ranked second in the world in the World Markets Research Center' s global e-government rankings. In 2002, 2004 and 2005, the Center for Public Policy at Brown University in the U.S. rated Taiwan as having the most comprehensive e-government in the world, and the 2005 Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum ranked Taiwan fifth in the world in the e-government competitiveness category.
Today, Taiwan's e-government continues to win plaudits all over the world. When considering Taiwan’s outstanding achievements in this area, tributes are due to senior financial and economic officials such as the late Dr. K.T. Li (Senior Advisor to the President) without whose unwavering commitment to the development of the information industry Taiwan's citizens would not have been able to enjoy the benefits that computerization and e-enablement have brought.
To stimulate the development of the information industry in Taiwan, Dr. Li urged the government and the private sector to collaborate on the establishment of the Institute for Information Industry (III). III was entrusted with the tasks of putting forward recommendations on information industry development to government agencies and to industry, helping the government to formulate both short-term and long-term development plans, and providing a range of services to government agencies, stateowned enterprise and private companies, thereby helping to give Taiwan a comprehensive information system infrastructure.
In accordance with this mission, III undertook the planning for Taiwan's first e-government system: a banking automation system, the establishment of which helped Taiwan to acquire the experience and skills needed for further automation and computerization projects. III went on to assist with the comprehensive computerization of operations at around 800 government offices responsible for cadastral registration and military service registration in 25 counties, cities and metropolitan areas throughout Taiwan, providing a solid foundation for the creation of an integrated national population database. The creation of this system was a landmark event in the history of public administration information systems in Taiwan. By helping the government to establish this large-scale information system, III also helped Taiwan's software firms to cultivate the skills and capabilities needed to take on large-scale projects of this kind. These information systems were widely praised by foreign officials and experts visiting Taiwan to study Taiwan's experience in the development of e-government.
Over the years, as the information industry has evolved, the role of III has evolved with it. In the last few years III has been working actively to promote international collaboration, to support information industry development in Central and Southern Taiwan, to strengthen the digital innovation and the provision of support for the information and communication services sector. This issue, to mark the 29th anniversary of III's founding, our cover story –Actively Promoting the Development of the Information Society in Taiwan – III– is a special report in which leading figures who played a major role in the development of the information industry in Taiwan share their memories and experiences of helping the government to establish information systems.
