Over the past 10 years Cochrane Taiwan has built a reputation for mobilizing knowledge and promoting evidence-based medicine both in Taiwan and beyond. Here they share some of the successes and learnings that have stood out over the past decade.
Laying the foundations
When Cochrane Taiwan was officially established in 2015, it was the culmination of more than a decade of quiet groundwork. The story began in 2003 at National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) in Taiwan with activities to promote evidence-based medicine, train researchers in systematic reviews, disseminate the Cochrane Library, and translate Cochrane abstracts to Traditional Chinese.
In 2005, funded by National Science Council (now the Ministry of Science and Technology), NHRI was able to expand the access of Cochrane Library for regional and district hospitals. In addition, the team also organized extensive workshops, national evidence-based medicine competitions, and continued translating Cochrane abstracts.
To sustain the effort, starting 2011, Taipei Medical University established the Center for Evidence-Based Medicine with continued support from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. With this strong foundation, Cochrane Taiwan was established in 2015, marking a milestone in evidence-based healthcare and knowledge translation in Taiwan.
Building visibility
The biggest success of the team has been creating a thriving knowledge translation ecosystem. At the centre, there is a large, dedicated network of volunteers who have produced a rich catalogue of Cochrane evidence translated into Traditional Chinese. It has helped make robust evidence accessible to diverse audiences.
Beyond translation, Cochrane Taiwan has embraced digital engagement. YouTube live programmes, interactive quizzes, and themed competitions have created new ways to introduce evidence to audiences who might otherwise never open a systematic review.
A key example is their “Meet Evidence at Lunch (MEAL)” sessions, a monthly YouTube live held at lunchtime, which offers an accessible and informal way to engage in evidence.
“This regular format demonstrates the value of continuity, audience-centred communication, and local adaptation in making global evidence meaningful and usable in local contexts.” Cliff Chiehfeng Chen, Director, Cochrane Taiwan
These activities have improved evidence literacy among healthcare professionals, students, and the general public.
Beyond Taiwan
Beyond Taiwan, the group is actively collaborating with international communities. Cochrane Taiwan has played an active role in the East Asia Cochrane Alliance (EACA), collaborating closely with Cochrane groups in Japan, Korea, and Singapore. By hosting the EACA Symposia in 2019 and again in 2025, it provided a platform for regional dialogue, joint training and capacity building in evidence synthesis and knowledge translation.
Collectively, these efforts have positioned Taiwan as a valued contributor to the regional and global Cochrane community.
Not all plain sailing
But the journey hasn’t been without challenges; maintaining long-term engagement in a resource-limited environment has required continuous investment. It takes effort, including coordination, support, and innovation, to recruit, train and retain volunteers and skilled contributors. Balancing rapid dissemination with Cochrane’s rigorous standards has also been a continual effort.
Looking ahead: innovation and integration
Cochrane Taiwan is now turning its attention to the future. The team plans to further educate and strengthen digital knowledge translation, expand regional and international collaboration, and deepen the integration of Cochrane evidence into healthcare policy and practice.
We are also exploring new approaches, including AI-assisted workflows and engagement models, to enhance efficiency, quality, and long-term sustainability.
“By embedding evidence-based knowledge into education and everyday life, and combining rigorous content with innovative outreach approaches, our efforts have significantly expanded the access, visibility, and societal impact of Cochrane evidence across Taiwan.” Cliff Chiehfeng Chen, Director, Cochrane Taiwan
